Alberta Economy and Employment

After over a decade of high growth rates, Alberta remains filled with potential for further economic expansion. Alberta’s economy is driven by its booming energy industry, a major employer in the province. The energy industry directly accounts for one in every 16 jobs  jobs in the province. This sector is expected to grow even further as technological advances allow the development of the oil sands in the north of the province. Alberta’s high rate of economic growth is not limited to the energy industry, however, as the province boasts a diverse economy. Alberta’s manufacturing sector has doubled in size in the last decade, and innovation is spurring new industries that make Alberta a strong competitor in global markets. Beyond oil and gas, forestry remains an important industry, worth over $6 billion annually. Alberta has also traditionally been home to large farming and ranching industries, which remain an important part of the province’s culture and economy.

With the rapid pace of economic development in the province, Alberta is a great place to find work in Canada. Alberta enjoys an unemployment of around 5.5%, well below the national average of 6.8%. When this low unemployment rate is combined with low natural population growth and record-setting numbers for job creation, the result is that there are many job opportunities available for immigrants in the province.

In recent years the province has increased the number of permanent resident immigrants as well as temporary foreign workers living and working in the province, yet the unemployment rate continues to decline. International surveys consistently rank Calgary and Edmonton among the top cities in the world to work. On top of the availability of jobs, people enjoy working in Alberta thanks to its high standard of living.

British Columbia Economy and Employment

While British Columbia’s economy has traditionally been dominated by natural resources, in recent decades it has diversified significantly, now featuring an extensive industrial and service economy. Forestry and mining remain important industries, as is construction. Telecommunications is the centerpiece of a booming technology sector.

Tourism is a considerable source of revenue for the province, thanks to its vast natural beauty. B.C. plays host to much of the Rocky Mountains, thousands of miles of coastline, and sweeping acres of protected green space. B.C. also has the largest fishing industry in Canada,  as well as sizeable cattle and dairy farm operations. At the same time, B.C. is Canada's third-largest generator of hydroelectricity and Canada's second-largest natural gas producer. The Vancouver area, where the majority of British Columbians reside, has become an important financial, business and technology center and is a major film and television production center in North America. As an up-and-coming urban center, Vancouver is home to a flourishing service industry.

British Columbia is a good place to find a job in Canada. Unemployment rates in the province have dropped in comparison to the past 30 years, falling at 6.1%. Many of these new jobs are in the service or technology sectors. With growth forecasts very positive for the future of the province, there will continue to be many job opportunities for immigrants in British Columbia soon.

Manitoba Economy and Employment

Manitoba’s principle industries are mining, manufacturing, and agriculture. Traditionally farming has been a major occupation for Manitobans, and the rich farmlands in southern Manitoba produce wheat, barley, oats, sunflower, flax and canola crops, as well as dairy and livestock farms. From this agricultural base a considerable food processing industry has emerged. In addition, Manitoba is home to considerable manufacturing, aerospace and transportation industries. Winnipeg has a sizable financial and insurance industry, as well as government administration and services.

The unemployment rate in Manitoba is presently 5.6%, well below the Canadian average of 6.8%. The economy is expected to continue its recent growth. While this should provide robust job creation, the Government of Manitoba also provides programs to help immigrants settle and find jobs in the province. Among these are free English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes, job preparation programs, and mentoring with Canadians in your profession.

New Brunswick Economy and Employment

New Brunswick has a wealth of natural resources that have traditionally formed the center of its economy. With its vast forested areas, lumber products are one of the main exports. Today New Brunswick is home to a modern service-based economy, with major financial and insurance industries leading the way. Canada is investing heavily in encouraging these modern industries in New Brunswick to combat unemployment in fishing and agriculture, which also remain important industries. Many companies are choosing to locate customer service and technical support call-centers in New Brunswick because of the availability of bilingual staff. Information technology has also been a growth industry for the province, and a major beneficiary of investment.

Manufacturing is also a major employer in the province and has been on the rise in the recent years. Much of the heavy industry can be found in Saint John. Leading the manufacturing industries are food and beverages, followed by pulp and paper furniture, metal processing and transportation equipment. The province has also enjoyed increasing tourism as people come to take in the province’s natural beauty. Tourism has been a major source of job creation in the last decade.

Newfoundland and Labrador Economy and Employment

Newfoundland's economy is highly dependent on natural resources. The largest industry, fishing, has been adjusting to the depletion of fish populations, and the reduction of fishing quotas, since 1989 by developing new techniques and strategies, though the industry continues to face challenges. The second most prominent industry in the provincial economy is the mining industry, with a gross value of mineral shipments of roughly $3.7 billion per year, mostly in the form of iron ore from Labrador. The third largest industry consists primarily of pulp and paper mills.

The energy sector is also an important part of the Newfoundland economy. The largest hydroelectric facility is in Churchill Falls, Labrador. Newfoundland also has significant offshore oil reserves which are now being developed and extracted at an increased pace.

The province of Newfoundland faces challenges to overcome the decline of its fishing industry, which has traditionally been the center of the province's economy. With many residents having worked their whole careers in the industry, Newfoundland faces Canada's highest unemployment rate at 14.7%. The province is investing heavily in re-training programs and new growth industries and is experiencing some success at moving its economy away from dependence on natural resources.

Nova Scotia Economy and Employment

Nova Scotia has a very diverse economy that includes key industries in the service, manufacturing and mining sectors. Traditionally, many Nova Scotians made their livings from fish stocks of the Scotian Shelf. Unfortunately, however, fish resources have become endangered in recent years, heavily impacting the fishing industry. Recently, the Nova Scotia economy has successfully diversified, and with retraining many of those who had lost their jobs with the decline of the fisheries have found new jobs in Nova Scotia's growth industries. In September of 2006 this job boom drove unemployment in the province to below the Canadian average for the first time in the province's history. Halifax, as a large urban center, is home to a wide array of industries and professions and its economy is the heart of Atlantic Canada.

Nova Scotia has a highly developed forestry sector as well as a highly specialized commercial agriculture sector. The mining sector is dominated by coal production. The province of Nova Scotia has recently begun to benefit from the extensive exploration of offshore oil and gas has been undertaken in the past decade.

Since the first commercial production of oil began near Sable Island in 1991, oil and gas revenues have increased significantly, helping to fuel the transformation of Nova Scotia's economy.

Tourism is also an important sector in the provincial economy. Almost two million visitors come to Nova Scotia each year, many of which come from outside Canada.

Ontario Economy and Employment

The province of Ontario is the economic heart of Canada and, as a result, all types of industries are present in the province, most notably in Toronto and other urban areas. The province is home to a strong modern service and information economy, along with a solid manufacturing base. Ottawa is the seat of government and of most federal ministries, which helps it to attract businesses as well as non-commercial organizations of an international nature.

Ontario’s main international manufacturing sector is the auto industry, where Canadian companies are among world leaders. After a period of stagnation in the industry, recent years have seen major investments by leading manufacturers in new plants and technologies.

The province also has strong natural resource-based industries. A long-established mining sector includes nickel and iron mines. The province’s vast forests support a lumber, pulp and paper industry that has adapted new sustainable practices. Eco-tourism is on the rise as people look to enjoy the various recreational activities that Ontario’s natural environment has to offer.

The unemployment rate in Ontario is on par with the national average and stands at 6.8%. With a diverse, thriving economy, job opportunities in Ontario span the full range of professions, from agriculture to information technology. Job creation levels in the province have been strong in recent years and are expected to continue.

Prince Edward Island Economy and Employment

Agriculture, tourism and fishing are the main industries present in Prince Edward Island. About 30 percent of Canada's potatoes are grown in Prince Edward Island, providing the most important source of income for the province's 2,000 farms. Tourism is on the rise as the Island's charm, landscapes, and golf courses entice greater numbers of visitors each year. The manufacturing sector is comprised mainly of food processing. High-technology is also becoming important, especially in the medical, electronics and agricultural fields.

The fishing industry, once a major employer in the province, has been in decline due to depleting stocks of fish in the once teeming Grand Banks area. The effect of this decline is that the unemployment rate in Prince Edward Island stands at over 10 percent, making it the second highest among Canadian provinces. The government is making efforts to train those from the fishing industry left without jobs to work in P.E.I.'s growth industries.

Quebec Economy and Employment

Québec's economy is highly industrialized and diversified. Quebec’s advanced manufacturing sector produces a wide variety of products for export, such as air traffic control equipment, software, subway trains, helicopters, compact disks, air purifiers and toys. Montreal, the province's commercial capital, has developed competitive industries in space and aeronautics, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, energy, transportation and finance. Montreal has also recently become known for its software startups, most notably with regards to the entertainment industry, and the city follows Vancouver as a major movie production center.

In addition, the Province of Quebec is very rich in natural resources. Quebec produces more than a third of Canada's pulp and paper products and a large percentage of its soft lumber. Thanks to Quebec’s abundant hydroelectric generating capacity, the state-owned energy sector produces and sells large quantities of hydro-electricity to neighboring provinces and the United States, a field the province has acquired much expertise in. Agriculture revenue is also considerable in the province. International exports now account for over 30 percent of the province's gross domestic product.

Quebec is steadily rebounding from a period of economic recession that saw unemployment on the rise. During this period of uncertainty some major Canadian companies shifted headquarters away from Montreal. Quebec is steadily adding jobs and attracting new companies with its highly skilled workforce. The unemployment rate currently sits at approximately 8.1%.

Saskatchewan Economy and Employment

Saskatchewan is often referred to as Canada’s breadbasket, as the province produces 28 percent of Canada's grain and over 54 percent of Canada's wheat crop. While agriculture is still very important to Saskatchewan’s economy, generating about 5 percent of GDP, service-based sectors such as finance, insurance and real estate (17 percent of GDP) also make a significant impact.  The province is also rich in minerals such as potash, uranium, coal, oil and natural gas. Saskatchewan is Canada’s leading exporter of potash (fertilizer).

The unemployment rate in Saskatchewan is currently less than 4 percent, the lowest in Canada, making Saskatchewan a good place to find work in Canada. The minimum wage in Saskatchewan is $10.50 per hour.