Grande Prairie is still one of Canada’s best job markets. A study by staffing company Express Employment Professionals ranks the Swan City as third, behind just Saint-Hyacinthe and Drummondville, Quebec. This is the second year the Labour Day study has been done, but Edmonton franchise owner Jessica Culo says it’s clear Grande Prairie has staying power, due to the diversity in its economy.
“A lot of the trades and technical positions that are available or opportunities that there are in Grande Prairie are not just focused on the oil and gas sector. Forestry and agriculture also provide a lot of those opportunities, and that’s unique I think when comparing Grande Prairie to Edmonton and Calgary.”
By cross-referencing Statistics Canada population data with jobs posted on the federal job bank, GP has 8.07 available jobs per 1,000 residents. Culo adds that there are other perks that come with working in our area as well.
“We have a lot of clients here in Edmonton that will provide northern living allowances for people that are willing to travel or commute or live in Grande Prairie or Fort McMurray or other northern communities, and it seems that more often people will choose Grande Prairie as a place to live.”
Last year, we were only beat out by Fort McMurray, which dropped down to sixth this year. Culo says that with all of the bad economic news in the province lately, this is a bright spot for the Peace region.