Attractive Economy

Economic Performance and Forecasts

In Alberta investors can benefit from one of the most successful economies in the world.

Alberta consistently has the highest investment per capita among Canadian provinces. In 2008, Alberta investment per capita was $24,267, well more than double the Canadian average. In 2008 total investment reached $83.7 billion.

In 2007, a record 48,791 new businesses were created in Alberta, up 25% from 2005.

Those who invest in Alberta are encouraged to stay for the long term, and the long-term outlook remains positive. For an unvarnished look at Alberta’s current economic performance see:

Economic outlooks and forecasts are available:

Employment

In 2008, Alberta had the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 3.6%. Alberta also had the highest labour force participation rate among the provinces at 74.1%, 6.5% higher than the national average.

For more information and statistics on employment in Alberta refer to:

Natural Resources

Alberta’s traditional strengths are found in its resource-based industries, such as agriculture, energy, forestry, and industrial products. For more information about Alberta's natural resources, visit the following Government of Alberta websites:

Technology

Alberta has a growing technology sector, which is anchored in supporting the natural resource industries. The strengths of this sector are found in:

  • advanced materials and nanotechnology
  • life sciences (bio-industry)
  • information and communication technologies (ICT), the largest of the three, representing 3 to 4% of Alberta's GDP

Trade

Alberta's exports of goods and services have almost tripled between 1996 and 2007, to about $90.4 billion. A growing number of these exports are manufactured products and services.

Alberta has a rapidly growing manufacturing base. Between 2003 and 2007, manufacturing shipments grew by almost 40% to $67.1 billion.

For more information on trade in Alberta, refer to:

Date Updated: Mar 23, 2009
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