Highly Skilled Human Capital

Population - Alberta

In 2010, Alberta's population grew by 1.42% to 3,742,753, the third fastest growth population among the provinces after Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. Overall, Alberta's growth was 30% higher than the national average of 1.11%.

Municipality	Population-2009	Population-2010	% Increase
City of Leduc	21,597	23,293	7.28
Leduc County	13,260	13,260	-
Town of Beaumont	11,794	12,586	6.29
Town of Calmar	2,033	2,033	-
Town of Devon	6,534	6,534	-
Village of Thorsby	954	988	4.35
Village of Warburg	696	696	-
Total	56,859	59,390	4.26

Source: Government of Alberta,  2010 official population list, as of Sept 1, 2010

Strong Labour Market

• Alberta's population of 3.7 million, with a median age of 35.6 years, is the youngest of all Canadian provinces.
• Alberta's labour force consists of more than two million well educated workers.
• Edmonton Region's labour force consists of more than 718,600 workers, up from 697,600 workers in 2010.
• The province has a knowledge-based workforce, with approximately 61.6 per cent of the population aged 25 years and older having a university degree, post-secondary diploma or certificate.
• Approximately 268,000 full and part-time students are enrolled in the public post-secondary education system in Alberta. In total, Alberta's four universities have over 118,000 students in attendance. Alberta also has over 70,000 registered apprentices in 50 trades and nine designated occupations.

Source: Government of Alberta, A Smart Investment: Government of Alberta, Monthly Economic Review March 2011

Educated Work Force

• Alberta's labour force consists of more than two million well-educated workers.
• In 2009, 63 per cent of the labour force 25 years of age and older reported holding a university degree, post-secondary diploma or certificate.
• Alberta's education system provides a learning environment conducive to economic and social success, and the pursuit of life-long learning.
• In 2010, Alberta's Composite Learning Index (CLI) was the highest among the Canadian provinces, with an index of 82. This represented a three percentage point advantage over second-ranked British Columbia, and a seven percentage point advantage over the Canadian CLI.
• Alberta's apprenticeship and industry training system is second to none, training over 20 per cent of Canada's
• apprentices, despite having only 11 per cent of its labour force.
• There are 69,904 registered apprentices as of December 2009.
• Alberta has 50 designated trades and eight designated occupations in the provincial apprenticeship program.

Source: Government of Alberta, Alberta Finance and Enterprise

Educational Institutions

Graduates from Alberta institutions make up the province's highly skilled and educated labour force.

• Approximately 268,000 full and part-time students are enrolled in the public post-secondary education system in Alberta.
• Continuing-education programs across the province offer students the opportunity to acquire new skills while employed.
• Educational institutions in Alberta are recognized for teaching excellence and leadership in research.
• World-class educational and research facilities support innovation and contribute to Alberta's growth and economic prosperity.
• Alberta's post-secondary institutions are linked internationally. People from all over the world come to Alberta to study.
• Degrees, diplomas or certificates earned in Alberta are globally recognized.
• Post-secondary institutions in close proximity to Alberta's International Region include:
  • University of Alberta
  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
  • Grant MacEwan University (City Centre Campus and South Campus)
  • Kings University College
  • Concordia University College
  • Norquest College