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The Calgary Region - Economic Dynamo

Cost of Business
Calgary is among the most cost competitive cities in the world for the cost of establishing and operating a business. The 2006 KPMG Competitive Alternatives study showed that Calgary has a 5.3% operating cost advantage over the United States. It’s the third least expensive of major Canadian cities in which to do business, and in comparison to large international cities outside Canada, Calgary comes in second place only to Singapore.

Calgary’s Key Industries
Energy - Calgary is home to the majority of Canada’s oil and gas production companies, major pipeline operators, oilfield service and drilling companies, energy-related engineering and consulting firms, and headquarters to major North American pipeline and energy distribution companies. Canada's largest concentration of investor owned electric power generation companies are based in Calgary.

Finance and Business Services - Of the 34,200 new jobs created in Alberta in the finance and business sector over the past 10 years, more than 56% of these jobs are in the Calgary Region.

Transportation and Logistics - The gross domestic product (GDP) created by Calgary's transportation and logistics sector has grown by 30.7% over the past five years (2002-2006).

Technology - Calgary is home to the largest number of technology start ups per capita in Canada.

Manufacturing - Calgary's manufacturing GDP increased by 18% over the past 5 years (2002-2006) and is forecasted to increase an additional 21% over the next 5 years (2007-2012).

Film - In 2004, film activity in the Calgary Region reflected approximately $130 million in Calgary-based production - an estimated 80% of the provincial share of film activity.

Aerospace - an emerging industry.

Alberta's Positive Business Climate and Recent Growth
  • The lowest overall taxes in Canada.
  • No provincial sales tax.
  • No general capital or payroll taxes prevalent in other provinces and U.S.
  • A debt-free provincial government.
  • A highly skilled, educated and motivated workforce that is the most productive in Canada.
  • Over $103 billion in major capital projects proposed, announced, under construction or recently completed (2004).
  • A 200% increase in exports of goods and services to $90.1 billion between 1996 and 2006.
  • Investment per capita of $22,296 in 2006, more than twice the national average. A 400% increase in investment since 1996 - to $75.3 billion in 2006
  • Creation of 465,000 new jobs between 1996 and 2006.
  • The lowest unemployment rate in Canada in 2006, at 3.4%.
  • Over the past decade, Alberta had the highest rate of economic growth in Canada at 4.3% per year. The Alberta economy led the nation for a third consecutive year in 2006, growing by 6.8%. Economic growth is forecast to be 4.3% in 2007 and 3.9% in 2008
  

Economic Facts
Of all major Canadian cities
Calgary has..
  • The lowest 5-year average annual unemployment rate, at 5.0%.
  • The highest labour force growth in 2006 at 7.1%.
  • The highest growth in retail sales in 2006 at 15.2%.
  • The highest growth in housing starts for 2006 at 24.7%.
  • The highest personal income per capita at $47,178 in 2006.
  • A number 1 ranking in real GDP growth in 2006 at an estimated 6.9%.
Calgary is...
  • Forecasted to be the location for over one third of all new jobs in Alberta.
  • Forecasted to require approximately 90,000 new jobs over the next five years and 158,000 in the next 10 years the highest of any economic region inCanada.
Calgary has...
  • The highest concentration of head office employment in Canada (ona per capita basis).
Src: Calgary Economic Development