Region at a glance

The Battle River region in eastern Alberta covers an area of 26,298 square kilometers, slightly larger in size than the state of Maryland. The region accounts for 4.1% of Alberta’s land mass and for 1.9% of Alberta’s population.

According to Statistics Canada’s latest estimates, the region’s population totaled 69,700 in 2010, an increase of 3.2% from 2006. According to the Labour Force Survey, the region’s unemployment rate was 5.6% in 2010, up from 5.1% in 2009. The number of employees was estimated at 35,960 in the 2006 Census.

The region’s largest industry on an employment basis is agriculture, accounting for 17% of total employment in Census year 2006, followed by health care and social assistance at 11%, and retail trade and oil and gas at about 10% each. The fastest growing industry between Census years 2001 and 2006 was the oil and gas sector, which increased its employment by 40%, followed by construction which increased its employment by one-third. Employment in the agricultural sector, which has been on a long and steady decline in the province, fell by 16% in the Battle River region between the two Census years.

According to personal income taxfiler data the average individual income in the region was $30,600 per taxfiler in 2007, a large 43% increase from 2003. Average income for couples was $93,100 in 2007, a 44% rise from 2003.

The Battle River region is one of Alberta’s top agricultural regions. It accounts for 13% of the province’s cropland and for 8.7% of total farm receipts. It is also the province’s largest producer of spring wheat and oats, the second largest producer of canola, and a major cattle producer. In 2009, the region accounted for 3% of Alberta’s crude oil production, for 2.7% of gas production and for 4.4% of the number of wells drilled.

Although very few current indicators are available on a regional basis, it is clear that the impacts of the global economic crisis have also subsided in this region; for instance the number of Employment Insurance beneficiaries receiving regular benefits in Battle River fell by 10% between 2009 and 2010.  Moreover, the number declined by 44% between June 2010 and June 2011.

Date Updated:
RDP-2452