A boost in oil production and exports and a growing population are buoying Alberta’s economy this year and making it a highly-desirable destination for foreign nationals looking to immigrate to Canada under economic programs.
“Underpinned by still-solid growth prospects and lingering labour market tightness, the pace of hiring in the province is likely to remain healthy, even as it slows from last year’s elevated rate,” notes TD Economics in its provincial forecast.
Rising employment would support further spending, though per-capita consumption is slated to fall for a second consecutive year.”
The bank’s economists are forecasting real GDP growth in Alberta of 2.1 per cent and employment growth of 2.9 per cent this year and further GDP growth of 1.9 per cent and employment growth of 1.1 per cent next year.
“Alberta continues to be insulated, though not immune, to the broader macroeconomic headwinds facing the nation as a whole,” notes TD Economics.
Read More
Immigration to Canada Trending Down, New Data Shows
New Immigrants Catching Up to Canadians in Findings Jobs
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in New Brunswick
“High interest rates have recently pressured consumers into slower spending but a still-supportive commodities backdrop and durable population gains will keep the provincial economy growing at a faster rate than most Canadian jurisdictions in 2024.”
The westernmost Prairie province was the destination of choice for 57,585 new permanent residents in 2023 and was on track at the end of the first quarter of this year to welcome another 61,440 new permanent residents this year, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals.
Foreign nationals can immigrate to Alberta under federal Express Entry programs which tie into the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) the province’s own economic immigration programs, including the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway which offers a fast-track to for candidates with job offers in one of 38 technology occupations.
Here are the Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs In Alberta by their National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 codes.
1. Registered Nurses (NOC 31301)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing.
The shortage of registered nurses is being felt across Canada.
“For registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 155,400, while 143,700 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank, the federal government’s job-hunting and career-planning website.
In late May, there were 1,501 job listings for registered nurses in Alberta on the Indeed.ca job website. Job Bank gives four stars to the job prospects for registered nurses in that province.
This occupation comes with a median annual wage of $90,909 in Alberta based on a 37.5-hour work week, according to Job Bank.
2. Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 73300)
Truckers drive straight trucks or tractor-trailers to transport freight over urban, interurban, provincial and international routes. They usually work for transportation, manufacturing, distribution and moving companies, and trucking employment service agencies, but some are self-employed.
“Whether you have the credentials to operate large commercial vehicles or the detail-oriented nature required for local deliveries, chances are you can find an open position to match,” notes Randstad.
Truck drivers in Alberta earn a median annual wage of $54,600 based on a standard work week, according to Job Bank and there were 2,024 job listings for truckers in Alberta in late May.
3. Retail Sales Managers (NOC 60020)
The shortage of retail sales managers is only projected to grow in Canada over the next few years.
“For retail and wholesale trade managers, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 117,700, while 99,000 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
In late May, Indeed.ca had 2,146 job listings for retail sales managers in Alberta. According to Job Bank, these jobs come with median annual earnings of $73,086 based on a standard work week.
4. Equipment Mechanics (NOC 72401)
The shortage of equipment mechanics across Canada is forecast to grow by an additional 2,200 positions over the next seven years.
“For heavy-duty equipment mechanics, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 25,000, while 22,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
These are the people who repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul and maintain heavy-duty mobile equipment used in construction, transportation, forestry, mining, oil and gas, material handling, landscaping, land clearing and farming.
In Alberta, heavy equipment mechanics earn an annual median income of $78,000 based on Job Bank data for a 37.5-hour work week.
In late May, Indeed had 2,256 job listings for heavy equipment mechanics in Alberta.
5. Heavy Equipment Operators (NOC 73400)
Those workers who operate the heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures, in surface mining and quarrying activities, and in material handling work are in hot demand.
Indeed.ca listed 2,146 jobs for heavy equipment operators in Alberta in late May and Job Bank shows these workers earn a median annual income of $62,400 based on a standard work week in Alberta.
“For heavy equipment operators(except crane), over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 31,200, while 30,300 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
Heavy equipment operators are typically employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies.
6. Software Developers (NOC 21232)
As the people who write, modify, integrate and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software and communications software, software developers are in hot demand.
“This is one of the top jobs in part because businesses of all types and sizes need developers to create app solutions, develop or maintain in-house software or help implement cloud or other technologies,” notes Randstad.
“One of the lessons learned during COVID-19 lockdowns in recent years was that technology could make or break a business. Companies that seamlessly transitioned into remote work environments often fared better. Add to that the growing need to rely on data and automations to remain competitive, and it’s no wonder so many businesses are on the hunt for skilled developers.”
In Alberta, software developers earn a median annual wage of $79,696 based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, Job Bank reveals. The Indeed job website had 655 such job listings for Alberta in late May.
7. Physicians – Family (NOC 31102) and Specialists (31101)
Indeed listed hundreds of positions for family physicians and specialists in Alberta in late May and the need for these medical practitioners is growing across the country.
“For general practitioners and family physicians, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 48,900, while 29,400 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat diseases, physiological disorders and injuries. In Canada, they make a median annual salary of $231,407.
Specialists, a category that includes surgeons, diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. The national median annual salary for a surgeon is $405,218.
8. Accountants (NOC 11100)
Accountants plan, organize and administer the accounting systems that keep track of that money for businesses, individuals and governments.
“For financial auditors and accountants, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 88,000, while 79,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
In late May, Indeed had 600 job listings for accountants in Alberta where the median annual income for these professionals was $80,964 based on Job Bank data for a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
9. Construction Trades Helper (NOC 75110)
There is a huge pent-up demand for workers in the construction trades in Alberta as the economy there expands.
“For trades helpers and labourers, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 19,600, while 17,900 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
These are the people who work at construction sites, in quarries and in surface mines, usually for construction companies, trade and labour contractors, and surface mine and quarry operators.
In late May, Indeed.ca had 2,417 job listings for those wanting to work as helpers in the construction trades in Alberta where Job Bank indicates they earn a median annual income of $42,900 based on a standard work week.
10. Cooks (NOC 63200) and Food and Beverage Servers (NOC 65200)
Restaurateurs in Alberta are hurting badly for cooks and servers as the hospitality sector faces an unprecedented labour shortage.
Indeed listed 3,417 jobs for cooks and another 953 jobs for servers in Alberta in late May.
The median annual income for a cook or a server in Alberta’s hospitality sector, based on a 37.5-hour work week, is $33,150 – but that doesn’t include tips.
