Alberta Full-time Job Numbers Showing Positive Signs
- May 5, 2017
- By Cody Battershill
Full-time and part-time job ratio showing good signs for Alberta
Could it be that full-time jobs in Alberta are making a come back?
Not only in recent years has the provinces full-time job market taken a huge hit that many economists associated with low energy prices, but the quality of available jobs also diminished as shown by the dropping ratio of full-time to part-time jobs.
Full-time / part-time job ratio
Since 2005, Alberta’s full-time to part-time job ratio has been anywhere from 0.5 to more than 1 percent higher than Canada’s, save a few times over the past year where it dropped below the national average.
Canada’s full-time to part-time ratio has been consistent at anywhere between 4 and 4.5 percent during this time, which means there were more than 4 times as many full-time jobs as there were part-time jobs.
On the other hand, Alberta’s has been subject to more drastic changes that has put its own levels anywhere between the high of 6 percent seen in April of 2013 to the low of 4.1 percent seen in in January of 2017.
Employers seeing better business conditions
Some employees such as students or stay-at-home caregivers prefer to work part-time hours to supplement their responsibilities. However, most job seekers look for full-time work as they typically come with more workers’ benefits and better pay.
Unfortunately, the latest recession has forced many employers in Alberta, especially those in the oil and gas sector, to cut hours and reduce many positions to part-time in order to keep their heads above water.
According to ATB Financials’ The Owl, Alberta’s full-time to part-time job ratio seems to be improving in the first few months of the year. April’s ratio came in at 4.4 percent – still somewhat low compared to boom years like in 2013, but suggestive that some companies are becoming more confident in the economy.
Not many new workers are currently being added to the payroll just yet, but existing employees may be getting offered more hours at work and made into full-timers.
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