Region at a glance

The West Yellowhead region in western Alberta covers an area of almost 51,767 square kilometers, larger in size than the Netherlands.  The region accounts for 8.1% of Alberta’s land mass and for 2.3% of Alberta’s population.  

According to Statistics Canada’s latest estimates, the region’s population totaled 87,200 in 2010, an increase of 3.4% from 2006.  The region’s unemployment rate was 6.8% in 2010, down from 8.0% in 2009.  According to the 2006 federal Census, the number of employees was 46,190 in 2006. 

The region’s largest industry on an employment basis is oil and gas, accounting for nearly 16% of total employment in 2006, followed by retail trade at 11% and accommodation and food services at 9%.  The construction and agricultural and forestry industries are also well represented in this region, and it also has a sizeable manufacturing base, which is concentrated in the forest products sector.  The fastest growing industry between Census years 2001 and 2006 was the oil and gas sector, which increased its employment by 47%.  Employment in the manufacturing sector fell by 12% in the West Yellowhead region over the same period, mainly because of declining employment in the forest products sector. 

According to personal income taxfiler data the average individual income was $38,000 in 2007, a 39% increase from 2003.  Average income for couples was $104,600 in 2007, a 43% rise from 2003.

West Yellowhead is Alberta’s top producer of forest products, accounting for about one-third of total production in the province, and is the leading producer of lumber.  The region is the province’s third largest natural gas producer and the third largest producer of conventional crude oil.  It is also one of the province’s top three tourism destinations.

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 West Yellowhead region fell by 17% between 2009 and 2010.  Moreover, the number declined sharply by 35% between June 2010 and June 2011.

Date Updated:
RDP-2465