Immigration drives Alberta’s record-breaking population surge. Immigration, both from outside and inside provinces, has increased quickly in Alberta, according to recent data from the government’s Office of Statistics and Information. Alberta saw a population gain of 204,677 between April 2023 and April 2024 or a growth rate of 4.41%. For the 2023–24 year, this represents the province with the fastest population growth rate across the country year after year. By contrast, Canada’s overall growth rate for the same period was 3.20%.
With this new growth rate, Alberta has broken the previous record for year-over-year growth as of April 1,1981. A significant increase above the 3.67% population growth was seen between 2022 and 2023. International migration is a major contributor to Alberta’s population growth. Net overseas migration brought 32,893 new citizens to the province in just the first quarter of 2024. This number includes both temporary residents, such as those with work or study visas, and asylum seekers, as well as permanent inhabitants.
People moving to Alberta from other Canadian provinces, such as Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba, is resulting in significant net gains for the province.
According to Statistics Canada, Alberta outperformed British Columbia in terms of net increases in interprovincial migration between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023. All four of Alberta’s largest cities had significant population growth during this time: Red Deer added 1,277 people, Edmonton saw 16,082 residents, Lethbridge saw 1,651 residents, and Calgary saw 26,662 individuals.
However, during the same 12-month period ending July 1, 2023, interprovincial migration resulted in a net loss for every major urban region in Ontario.
What Makes Alberta a Top Choice for Newcomers Compared to Other Canadian Provinces?
The latest wave of immigration, according to Statistics Canada, is consistent with the results of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Housing Market Outlook. According to this survey, the prairie provinces—Alberta included—are gaining popularity among prospective homeowners and job seekers as a result of their more reasonable housing costs and improved economic outlook. For those wishing to relocate, the prairie provinces are a more alluring alternative because these benefits are less noticeable in British Columbia and Ontario.
Reasonably priced housing
Even though the cost of real estate has increased recently, Alberta is still more cheap than the cities of British Columbia and Ontario.
The typical price of a single-detached house in Calgary was $710,000 in the second quarter of 2024, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Apartments were marketed at $330,000, and townhouses at $454,000. The typical price of a detached home in Edmonton, the second-largest metropolitan area in Alberta, was $485,000; the median price of a townhouse was $294,500; and the median price of an apartment was $188,000.
The absence of a land transfer tax also helps Alberta, making it more affordable for purchasers from outside the province.
In comparison, the second quarter of 2024 saw a median sale price of $1,300,000 for a detached home in Toronto, Ontario. The cost of condominium units was $640,000, while the cost of semi-detached homes was $1,041,000.
Economic expansion and evolving employment opportunities
Alberta’s forecasters now anticipate real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2024 to be 3.3%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points from their previous prediction.
According to the Business Council of Alberta’s research “Who’s Hiring in Alberta?”, the province’s labor market is less reliant than it formerly was on the oil and gas industry. The study examines publicly accessible job ads from 2018 to 2023.
The demand for jobs in trades and healthcare has increased significantly, “far exceeding population increases,” whereas the demand for jobs related to the energy industry has “stabilized.”
The survey also notes a rise in job ads requiring apprenticeship training or a college degree. Employers in the province are also starting to value tech skills like data analysis and business intelligence more and more. In contrast, the number of job ads for engineering positions has dropped by over 60%.
Alberta launched a new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream dedicated to tourism and hospitality earlier this year.
Targeted Express Entry draws are another way the government is trying to draw in medical professionals. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) Dedicated Healthcare Pathway may be able to grant permanent residence to candidates who have accepted job offers in healthcare-related fields.