As we’ve noted before, how the economy is doing depends on who you ask. To this end, it's useful to review the new set of data from Statistics Canada on the labour force participation of the over 1.2 million* Albertans aged 15 and over with one or more disabilities.

Albertans with disabilities are a key component of the provincial labour force at about a quarter of all people employed in the province.

At the same time, the numbers show that the persons with disabilities cohort lags behind Albertans who do not report a disability with a lower participation rate and higher unemployment rate (see the chart below).  

Average hourly pay was also lower for persons with disabilities at about $34 versus $38 for those not reporting a disability in 2025. The number of hours usually worked in a week was almost the same at 35.8 versus 36.8.

There are small differences between the Alberta numbers and the national averages, but these are largely in keeping with the differences in overall labour market conditions (e.g., the participation rate and unemployment rate for persons with disabilities in 2025 were both lower nationally, but this was also the case for persons without disabilities). 

The proportions are identical for the two groups in terms of public and private sector employment at 21% working in the public sector and 79% in the private sector. Self-employment levels are also basically the same across the two groups at 14% of total employment among persons with disabilities and 13% for those not reporting a disability.

When it comes to the industries in which people work and their occupations, the differences between the two groups are generally small, but skewed somewhat toward more persons with disabilities working in the service sector at 80% versus about 74% for those without a disability.

Differences are most apparent when the severity and type of disability are considered.

For those Albertans reporting a mild disability, the employment rate was 65% in 2025 compared to 45% for those with a moderate disability and 37% for those with a severe disability and just 20% for those in the very severe category.

Those reporting a mental-health related disability had the highest employment rate at 50% last year compared to just 29% for those with a mobility-related disability (see the chart below).  

In conclusion, the numbers suggest that having a disability does not prevent hundreds of thousands of Albertans from working and highlight how diverse the workforce is. At the same time, they are a reminder of the challenges persons with disabilities face when it comes to finding work and of the need to make more progress on this front.

There are huge opportunities here for employers to more fully engage persons with disabilities and secure the benefits of doing so. According to a 2023 U.S. study, disability inclusion improves the profitability of companies.  

Today’s Twenty-Four has only scratched the surface of this topic. We plan to dig deeper into it and discuss, for example, the positive economic impact of closing the ongoing labour market gaps between persons with and without disabilities, the barriers to the full engagement of persons with disabilities in the labour market, and the options for addressing them.

*Author’s estimate based on Labour Force Survey data.

Answer to the previous trivia question: The first National Building Code in Canada was published in 1941.

Today’s trivia question: When was the first annual Terry Fox Run held?