Workforce
The JEDI region has a labour force that is 6,357 persons strong with access to a large & competitive workforce of 334,000 people in the surrounding areas. The region also boasts a labour pool with higher levels of apprenticeship, trade certificates & diplomas than nearby municipalities.
The key employment sectors for residents (working either in or outside the region) are agriculture (15.7%), construction (11.1%), retail/trade (10.3%) and mining, quarrying, and oil & gas extraction (8.8%). Together, these four sectors account for almost half of all employment.
The JEDI region is an emerging area for economic activity. It is a central hub with some of the strongest gains in both real GDP and population increases on the North American landscape.
Employment Status and Workforce Entrenchment
The JEDI region labour participation rate is close to the provincial average, 64% vs 70%.
The JEDI region has the same unemployment rate as the rest of the province of Alberta (11%).
74% of the total labour force population worked in the past 52 weeks.
What attracts people to the JEDI region:
- Job opportunities
- Educational opportunities
- Location
- Good place for family
- Local community
- Housing prices
Sources: JEDI Regional Profile
Demographics/Labour Force
Click to enlarge:
For a complete and in-depth analysis of the region’s labour and workforce environment, and other demographics, take a look at the 2023 County of Wetaskiwin Regional Profile.