By the Monster Career Coach
Known for its annual Stampede and proximity to the Rocky Mountains, Calgary has developed a much broader base of employers than oil and gas companies or tourism.
With approximately 1.1 million residents, Calgary is the fifth largest metropolitan area in Canada, just behind Ottawa/Gatineau. The region covers 305 square miles (790 square kilometers). It’s motto is “Heart of the New West,” possibly because it continues to pump out jobs (like the heart pumps fresh blood) in a number of sectors.
Movers and Shakers
Calgary has seen its share of booms and busts over the years. In 2008 the oil and gas industries were flying high as prices rose and exploration activity was frantic. For 2009 this has shifted, and the sectors that are doing better than average tend to be those that rely on discretionary purchases by consumers, such as dining out or making retail purchases. Included are the following categories:
- Food and beverage along with food service management. Jobs in demand are chefs and cooks, kitchen and counter help, butchers and bakers (though not candle stick makers, at least for the time being).
- Retail and sales, from cashiers to sales supervisors. This indicates a positive change in consumer attitudes toward discretionary spending.
- Management positions in oil and gas, mining, plus related occupations. It’s good news for Western Canada, where it tends to be about resources and commodities. The bounce reflects the fact that a year ago quite a few management level staff were laid off due to declining prices, which now have stabilized.
- Miners, drillers and the workforce related to extraction industries are starting to see a comeback as well.
Calgary is second only to Toronto in terms of financial services and financial institutions, a sector poised for recovery. And you might not know it, but there is a great deal of Research and Development in the medical fields. Alberta’s Heritage Funds, initiated about 10 years, allots substantial funds to medical research; the number of research applications has risen dramatically recently.
Slower Spots
Prior to the global economic slowdown, Calgary had an overheated building and construction industry. Its housing market saw record growth and price increases. But when the heat began to taper off, architects, design firms, various construction trades were hit pretty hard.
However in the last few months there have been signs of a turnaround in housing starts and home prices. This isn’t expected to translate into jobs immediately because there’s a lot of unsold inventory, though prospects for 2010 are more buoyant.
Signs of Growth
In early to mid 2009, homes that were being sold in Calgary often stayed on the market for a long time and fetched prices considerably lower than even six months beforehand. Lately the number of months it takes to sell a home there is heading back to a normal period, while the bargain prices of earlier this year are disappearing.
Calgary is also host to five public post-secondary learning institutions. Included are the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, SAIT Polytechnic, Alberta College of Art and Design, and Bow Valley College. Even during times of private sector slowdown, due to increased enrolment there are more funds available and thus more jobs, at every level from administrative assistants, to finance, marketing communications, human resources and labour specialists, etc.
Outlook
As world demand picks up for oil and gas, and as consumer optimism is boosted, Calgary has solid prospects for 2010. Construction may not return to its previously frantic pace next year, but companies of all different types will be hiring again more so than this year. Which will once again confirm this city’s place as the Heart of the New West.