On a seasonally-adjusted basis, employment across all sectors of the Alberta economy was 2.1% (48,800 positions) higher in March 2022 than in February 2020 before the pandemic was declared.

But, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, the situation varies from industry to industry with some parts of the economy well ahead of where they were two years ago and some well behind.

The sectors that have roared back include wholesale and retail trade (+13.6%), finance and real estate* (+12.6%), natural resources** (+12.1%) and business, building and other support services (+10.3%).

Sectors that are yet to replace the jobs lost during the pandemic include agriculture (-33.7%), utilities (-25.3%), other services (13.5%) and accommodation and food services (-12.9%).

In some sectors—agriculture is a prime example—labour shortages are driving the lower employment numbers rather than a lack of job openings.

Nationally, total employment in March was 2.3% (441,600) above the pre-pandemic level.

In Canada as a whole, public administration jobs were up by 10.3% but down by 0.3% in Alberta. Manufacturing jobs in Canada have recovered the ground lost since the pandemic was declared (+0.8%) but remain 9.6% lower in Alberta.

*Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 

**Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas

Answer to the previous trivia question: The first home milk deliveries occurred in Vermont in 1785.

Today’s trivia question: Which sector of the economy employs the most people in both Canada and Alberta?