Whitecourt, Alberta Employment Information
Whitecourt, Alberta Overview Nicknamed the "Snowmobile Capital of Alberta," Whitecourt is about a 90-minute drive from ...
Whitecourt, Alberta Overview
Nicknamed the "Snowmobile Capital of Alberta," Whitecourt is about a 90-minute drive from Edmonton. The town is the biggest commercial centre in the region, serving as the main trading hub for more than 40,000 people. With a population of 10,500, Whitecourt considers itself an innovative town.
In the next five years alone, the town will complete more than C$10 billion worth of projects to promote economic growth. Whitecourt attributes its prosperity to its diversified economy, supported primarily by the tourism, forestry, and oil and gas industries. The town also boasts an affordable cost of living and doing business, as well as sophisticated transportation and telecommunications infrastructures.
Whitecourt, Alberta Job Opportunities
The forestry industry plays a major role in Whitecourt's economy. In fact, the Canadian Forestry Association named the town the "Forest Capital of Canada" in 2013. The town is home to three mills in the forestry industry, including the Millar Western and Blue Ridge Lumber Sawmills. The mills are the major suppliers of manufacturing jobs in Whitecourt, Alberta.
In the tourism sector, Whitecourt residents can find numerous jobs at the Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza. The casino is a major source of food service, security, and hospitality jobs in Whitecourt, Alberta. Finally, the major provider of medical care in the region is the 24-bed Whitecourt health care Centre, which offers various health care and administrative positions.
Whitecourt, Alberta Employment Trends
According to the Town of Whitecourt, the town has experienced a five percent growth rate each year since 2011. While unemployment statistics specific to Whitecourt are unavailable, Employment and Social Development Canada reports the nearby Edmonton metro area has an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent. Edmonton's unemployment rate is lower than that of Alberta as a whole, which faces a six percent unemployment rate. Both Alberta's and Edmonton's unemployment rates remain below that of Canada as a whole.