Region at a glance

The Capital region, with Edmonton as its centre, covers an area of 11,993 square kilometers, similar in size to the state of Connecticut.  The region accounts for 1.9% of Alberta’s land mass and for 31.8% of Alberta’s population.  

According to Statistics Canada’s latest estimates, the region’s population totaled 1.18 million in 2010, an increase of 9.1% from 2006.  According to the Labour Force Survey about 640,000 people were employed in the region in 2010, and the unemployment rate was 6.7%, unchanged from 2009. 

The region’s largest industry on an employment basis is health care and social assistance at 12% of total employment in 2010, followed by construction and retail trade (10% each).  Health care and social assistance was also the fastest growing industry between 2006 and 2010 and increased its employment level by more than 17,000, followed by construction with a 13,000 increase. 

The Capital region is Alberta’s number two tourism destination, accounting for 22% of Alberta’s total number of hotel rooms.  Many other large industries, such as manufacturing, construction, and professional, scientific and technical services (for instance engineering) are heavily dependent on Alberta’s large oil and gas sector.  The Capital region has Alberta’s largest manufacturing sector, and accounts for 40% of Alberta’s manufacturing shipments.  The region’s top manufacturing sectors are chemicals, metal fabrication and machinery.

According to personal income taxfiler data, the average individual income was $39,600 in 2007, a 35% increase from 2003.  Average income for couples was $117,300 in 2007, a 39% rise from 2003.

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 the Capital region fell by 4% between 2009 and 2010.  Moreover, the number declined sharply by 31% between June 2010 and June 2011.

Date Updated:
RDP-2454