Economic profile: Calgary (CMA), Alberta
Overview
CalgaryFootnote 1 has a population of 1,481,806, consisting of 13% seniors (65 and older), 68% working-age adults (15 to 64) and 19% children (under 15).
The key sectors of the economy in Calgary, which account for 39% of the jobs in the region, are
- health care and social assistance
- professional, scientific and technical services
- retail trade
There are 724,205 employed residents, of which 36% are immigrants.Footnote 2
The economy generates a total of $125 billion in household and business incomes, which amounts to $84,384 per resident.
General age structure – 2021
| In the region | In the province | |
|---|---|---|
| % children (under 15) | 19% | 19% |
| % working-age adults (15 to 64) | 68% | 66% |
| % of seniors (65 and older) | 13% | 15% |
Sustainability
In order to support local services such as health care and social programs and maintain a good standard of living for everyone in the region, it is essential to have more working-age adults than seniors. Calgary has more working-age adults than seniors compared to the average in Alberta.
From 2011 to 2021, Calgary experienced
- a 22% increase in population, compared to a 17% increase in the province
- a 38% increase in the population’s proportion of seniors, compared to a 33% increase in the province
- a 5.4% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, compared to a 5.5% decrease in the province
Population structure – Changes from 2011 to 2021
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | +22% | +17% |
| Proportion of children | +1.0% | +1.1% |
| Proportion of working-age adults | -5.4% | -5.5% |
| Proportion of seniors | +38% | +33% |
By 2031, without immigration,Footnote 3 the region could experienceFootnote 4
- a 2.8% increase in population
- a further decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults by 4.1%, which could limit the availability and quality of local services
- a further increase in the population’s proportion of seniors by 42%, potentially changing the demand for local services, including health care and long-term care
No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | +2.8% | +2.2% |
| Proportion of children | -15% | -17% |
| Proportion of working-age adults | -4.1% | -3.4% |
| Proportion of seniors | +42% | +37% |
Prosperity
The region relies heavily on working-age adults to keep local services running smoothly and to maintain a good standard of living and economic growth. Immigrants can help by filling job gaps and bringing new skills and ideas, which keeps the local economy strong.
From 2011 to 2021, Calgary experienced
- a 14% increase in workforceFootnote 5 size, compared to an 8.5% increase in the province
- a 36% increase in the number of immigrant workers, compared to a 42% increase in the province
- a total of 107,777 retirements,Footnote 6 which amounts to 13% of the 2021 workforce, compared to 15% in the province
- a change in the average income per resident from local jobs relative to the province, which is 7.8% higher than the average in Alberta in 2021
Economic changes from 2011 to 2021
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce | +14% | +8.5% |
| Immigrant workers | +36% | +42% |
| Retirement as % of 2021 workforce | 13% | 15% |
| Wage income generated from jobsFootnote 7 | +22% | +20% |
By 2031, without immigration,Footnote 8 the region could experienceFootnote 9
- a 35% decrease in workforce size
- a 29% decrease in the number of jobs
- an increase in the proportion of seniors in the population from 13% to 19%
No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031
| Changes in the region | Changes in the province | |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce | -35% | -33% |
| Retirement as % of 2031 workforce | 23% | 24% |
| Number of jobs | -29% | -28% |
Supporting the community’s French-speaking population
Francophone immigration outside Quebec plays an important role in enhancing the vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities across the country.
Calgary is part of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This initiative supports the economic and socio-cultural integration of French-speaking newcomers.
In total, 6.7% of Calgary’s population speaks French, with 1.3% speaking French as a first language and 5.4% as a second language.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are from the 2011, 2016, or 2021 editions of the Statistics Canada Census, and all calculations are from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis.
