Productivity rates

In 2011, Alberta’s economic productivity was higher than any other province. Total value added (GDP) per hour in Alberta’s business sector exceeded the Canadian average by 18%. Alberta’s manufacturing and business services sectors also had the highest productivity of all provinces.

Productivity by Province

 

Business Sector Productivity (GDP/Hour Worked)
2011*

Manufacturing Productivity
(GDP/Hour Worked)
2011*

Business Services** Productivity
(GDP/Hour Worked)
2011*

Alberta

$46.00

$58.10

$38.90

Newfoundland and Labrador

$45.20

$28.30

$27.70

Saskatchewan

$43.80

$55.00

$33.30

Canada

$38.90

$51.80

$34.30

Ontario

$38.30

$53.30

$35.60

Quebec

$36.60

$49.30

$31.00

British Columbia

$36.40

$48.40

$32.70

Manitoba

$34.40

$37.70

$31.10

New Brunswick

$31.40

$40.30

$29.60

Nova Scotia

$29.40

$37.30

$29.00

Prince Edward Island

$25.40

$28.00

$23.90

However, Alberta’s productivity growth rate is one of the lowest in the country: between 2001 and 2011 productivity in Alberta’s business sector grew at an average annual rate of only 0.4%, below the Canadian growth rate of 0.8% per year. It is also much lower than the 1.5% U.S. growth rate over the same period and that of most other international competitors.

Productivity Growth Rates by Province, 2001-2011

 

Business Sector

Average Annual Productivity Growth 2001 to 2011*

Manufacturing

Average Annual Productivity Growth 2001 to 2011*

Business Services**

Average Annual Productivity Growth 2001 to 2011*

Alberta

0.4%

1.3%

2.1%

Newfoundland and Labrador

3.5%

2.5%

1.6%

New Brunswick

1.6%

1.2%

2.0%

Saskatchewan

1.6%

1.6%

1.3%

Prince Edward Island

1.3%

-1.2%

1.0%

Manitoba

1.2%

1.6%

0.7%

British Columbia

1.0%

2.0%

1.2%

Nova Scotia

0.8%

1.7%

1.1%

Canada

0.8%

1.3%

0.9%

Quebec

0.7%

1.3%

0.5%

Ontario

0.4%

0.6%

0.5%

*Constant 2002 dollar GDP per hour worked
**Includes the following sectors Transportation; Information & Culture; Finance & Insurance; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Administrative & Support, Waste Management; Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Accommodation & Food Services
Sources: Statistics Canada and Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education

For more information on productivity in Alberta please visit Productivity Alberta.