About the Alberta HUB Region

The Alberta HUB Region encompasses...

The Alberta HUB Region encompasses 40,872 square kilometers and is approximately 6.4% of the area of the province of Alberta. Located in central northeast Alberta it hugs the Saskatchewan border from the town of Vermilion in the southeast and Cold Lake in the north, running west along the Yellowhead Highway to Edmonton, encompassing Lamont County in the west, and extending to Lac La Biche County in the north.

Alberta Competitiveness

The Alberta HUB Region is located in the Province of Alberta, known for its competitiveness. Some of the advantages enjoyed by Albertans include:

◦ The lowest overall taxes in Canada.

◦ The highest disposable incomes in Canada.

◦ The lowest unemployment rate in Canada.

◦ The first province in Canada to be debt-free.

◦ The highest investment per capita in Canada.

◦ The highest economic growth rate among Canadian provinces.

◦ The second largest petroleum reserves in the world.

◦ The Canadian leader in small business growth.

Alberta HUB Regional Labour Force Snapshot

◦ Labour force participation rates in Alberta and the Alberta HUB Region are among the highest in Canada

◦ The Alberta HUB Region's unemployment rates have been stable in the past 5 years staying in a band of 3.6 to 5.0%. This compares to Alberta unemployment figures which have nearly doubled from 3.4% in 2006 to 6.6% in May 2009.

◦ The Energy sector is the largest and fastest growing industry in the Alberta HUB Region. Employment in Energy industry has grown 87% between 2002 and 2007.

◦ The Cold Lake area attracts a large skilled labour force that for almost 25 years has been involved in the aerospace sector.

◦ Population growth averages are lower for Canada than Alberta over the 2001-2009 period. Population growth in rural areas of the Alberta HUB Region are very low (2.8% during the 2001-2009 period) compared to growth in its urban areas (27% during the 2001-2009 period).

◦ The median age of the Alberta HUB Region residents (34.4 years) is significantly lower than Canada's (39.5 years) overall but higher than Canada's in rural areas (45 years).

◦ Most population growth in the Alberta HUB Region (60%) is due to net migration and not natural population growth.

◦ First Nations and Métis people make up approximately 16% of the Alberta HUB Region's population, are significantly younger (median age of 22.7years), and are growing at twice the rate of the Alberta HUB Region's non-city municipalities.

◦ School jurisdictions overlapping the Alberta HUB Region's boundaries have approximately 3,900 students in grade 12 of which, according to Alberta averages, 60% will enter the labour force full-time upon graduation.

◦ Alberta HUB has 2 comprehensive community colleges and one specialized college with about 3,100 students enrolled and 1,288 graduates in 2008/09.

◦ Strong growth in trade training attendance in the Alberta HUB Region and across the province is positive for the Alberta HUB Region's labour supply.

◦ Lakeland College added 2 new trades programs in 2007/08 demonstrating responsiveness to local labour force needs.

◦ Portage College's reach to smaller communities is crucial in developing the labour force in these centres.

◦ Lakeland College, with campuses in Vermilion and Lloydminster. The Vermilion campus has one of the largest college-operated farms in Canada. The FIRE ETC. Emergency Training Centre, located at the Vermilion campus, is Canada's most comprehensive emergency training organization.

Alberta HUB Regional Snapshot

◦ An established and growing Aerospace & Defense industry. Cold Lake's Air Weapons Range is a world class training ground for military aircraft and is used by a number of allied countries.

◦ One of the largest in-situ oil sands operations in Canada and a premier in-situ project near Cold Lake.

◦ The Husky Lloydminster Upgrader which converts heavy oil from northeastern Alberta, western Saskatchewan, and bitumen from the Cold Lake area to synthetic oil.

◦ A strong agricultural sector that produces 15% of the province's oats, 12% of the province's canola along with other mixed grains.

◦ One of the country's largest cattle feedlots along with Alberta's first and only organic-fruit cottage winery are located in the Two Hills area.

◦ High quality transportation systems including Highway 16, a four-lane divided highway, which is part of the Yellowhead branch of the Trans- Canada Highway.

◦ Canada's oldest and one of its largest Ukrainian settlements along with one of the first permanent Lebanese settlements in Canada. The Alberta HUB also has one of the largest concentrations of French and Aboriginal settlements in Alberta. Four of Alberta's eight Métis Settlements are in the Alberta HUB Region.

◦ Over 150 lakes, sandy beaches, the beautiful North Saskatchewan River, and Western Canada's largest inland marina with over 250 berths.

◦ Canada's Largest Ecomuseum. Residents and visitors are encouraged to experience the history, culture, landscape, and natural recreation areas in this "living" outdoor museum.

Demographics Snapshot

There is a significant, growing population in the Alberta HUB region. Excellent employment opportunities and a great quality of life are key contributors to our growing work force.

The Alberta HUB Region's population is strong and stable. With a population of over 127,800, the Region accounts for about 3.2% of the province's population.
There are over 5,200 businesses in the region.
Between 2001 and 2006, the Alberta HUB Region grew at a rate of 5.1%.
More than 55% of the available workforce is between the ages of 20 and 64 years.
The median age for the Alberta HUB Region is 34.3 compared to Alberta's median age of 35.5 and Canada's median age of 39.0

Projected Population of Alberta HUB Region

			Change	Five Year Projection
	2001	2009	(+/-) %	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Total	115,382	125,686	8.93%	126,886	128,098	129,321	130,556	131,803
Population by age groups:
Under 15	28,285	28,487	0.71%	28,552	28,615	28,676	28,735	28,792
15-24	16,198	17,512	8.11%	17,686	17,861	18,038	18,216	18,397
25-44	33,135	33,944	2.44%	34,082	34,219	34,355	34,490	34,623
45-64	23,642	30,134	27.46%	31,033	31,948	32,880	33,828	34,792
Over 64	14,122	15,609	10.53%	15,803	15,999	16,197	16,398	16,601
Median	32.6	34.4		34.6	34.8	35.1	35.3	35.5
% Population distribution by age groups:
Under 15	24.51%	22.67%	-7.54%	22.48%	22.29%	22.10%	21.91%	21.72%
15-24	14.04%	13.93%	-0.75%	13.92%	13.91%	13.90%	13.89%	13.88%
25-44	28.72%	27.01%	-5.96%	26.83%	26.65%	26.47%	26.29%	26.11%
45-64	20.49%	23.98%	17.01%	24.43%	24.88%	25.33%	25.79%	26.24%
Over 64	12.24%	12.42%	1.47%	12.44%	12.46%	12.48%	12.50%	12.52%
Total	100%	100%		100%	100%	100%	100%	100%

Source: Northeast Alberta Information HUB Ltd.: Regional Investment Intelligence Profile - 2009 population figures are estimated using AlbertaMunicipal Affairs Official Population Statistics and municipal censuses performed by Alberta HUB's communities. 2010-2014 population projectionsare derived from regional and provincial population growth trends.

Key Industries in the Alberta HUB Region

Industry and NAICS1 Code	Number of businesses
Construction and Utilities (22-23)	611
Mining and Oil and Gas (21)	435
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting (11)	327
Manufacturing (31-33)	121
Total goods producing establishments with employees	1,494
Wholesale and Retail Trade (42-45)	860
Professional, Scientific, Technical Services (54)	530
Transportation and Warehousing (48-49)	472
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate (52-53)	295
Accommodation, Food Services, Arts and Culture (71-72)	320
Health Care and Social Assistance (62)	281
Other	960
Total service producing establishments with employees	3,718

Source: Government of Alberta's Regional Economic Indicators for the Northeast Region, July 2009. (1): North American Industry Classification System.

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