Calgary at a Glance
Calgary’s economic future is guided by Uplook, a citywide action plan uniting businesses, governments and community partners to build resilience and diversify our economy.
By looking beyond traditional metrics, we take a holistic view – measuring economic success for Calgary by evaluating progress made within our innovation ecosystem, talent pool, livability, business environment and global reputation.
Canada’s fastest-growing labour force
Calgary’s record-breaking population growth – fueled by talent moving from across Canada and around the world – has recently strengthened the city’s dynamic labour force.
With the highest employment and participation rates among major Canadian cities, Calgary continues to attract and absorb skilled workers even as the market adjusts to rapid growth.
Calgary's Talent Advantage
Behind Calgary’s strong labour force is a pipeline of highly skilled talent ready to power the city’s next chapter.
With over 90,000 students enrolled in Calgary’s eight post-secondary institutions, the talent pool is constantly evolving to fill in-demand skill gaps across industries. Local post-secondaries include Alberta University of the Arts, Ambrose University, Bow Valley College, Mount Royal University, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge (Calgary Campus), SAIT Polytechnic and St. Mary’s University.
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Educated workforce
68% of Calgary’s workforce has post-secondary education (StatsCan)
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STEM talent
Calgary has the highest percentage of post-secondary graduates with STEM degrees of all major Canadian cities (StatsCan).
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Prime working age talent
Calgary has the highest proportion of working age people in Canada, with 70 per cent of Calgary’s labour force in the prime productivity years of 25 to 54.
Key Economic Indicators
Strategically located, tax-friendly and rich in talent, Calgary is where companies grow — and people build meaningful careers.
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GDP
In 2024, Calgary’s economy contributed an estimated $129 billion to Canada's GDP (Conference Board of Canada).
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Highest national GDP per capita.
A strong indicator of business potential and quality of life, Calgary’s GDP per capita in 2024 was $71,896 the highest in Canada (StatsCan).
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Low tax advantage
With no Provincial Sales Tax (PST), land transfer tax (LTT), provincial capital or payroll taxes, it’s more affordable to do business in Alberta than other provinces.
Calgary plays a key role in Alberta’s diverse and resilient economy, with competitive advantages in several key and emerging sectors.
With a high concentration of head offices, accelerators and incubators, venture capital, and a steady stream of skilled grads and mid-career professionals, these sectors are creating new opportunities for Calgarians and driving provincial growth.
