Alberta labour supply up, but material handlers see job losses

Trucking HR Canada’s (THRC) latest Alberta Labour Market Information (LMI) snapshot shows pressures are easing in trucking and logistics in the province as employment grows, unemployment declines and job vacancy rates shrink.

According to the report, employment in Alberta’s trucking and logistics sector is up by 2.8 per cent with 5,300 more transport truck drivers employed in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023. But job losses for material handlers was steep at 28 per cent during that same period.

“The numbers are telling a positive story, but as always, it’s the details that matter,” said Craig Faucette, chief program officer, THRC. “Second quarter total employment was 109,000 workers, down 1.2 per cent from Q1 2024 but up by 2.8 per cent or 3,000 than Q2 2023.”

The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) stated it is pleased to see the province’s labour market pressures continuing to ease. Efforts by the Association and groups like Trucking HR Canada are coming to fruition, and we will continue to work together to continue focusing on decreasing those numbers through programs, initiatives, and work with membership, partners, and government.

Highlights of the report include:

• Employment among transport truck drivers in Alberta increased by 11 per cent in Q1 2024, with an additional 5,300 drivers employed compared with Q2 2023. Employment for transport truck drivers on the national level remained stable with a 0.1 per cent increase in Q2 2024 from Q2 2023.
• Employment among shippers and receivers is up 5.9 per cent from Q2 2023, and up 21 per cent for delivery and courier service drivers.
• Job losses from Q2 2023 to Q2 2024 were highest among material handlers (28 per cent) and general administration (12 per cent).
• Labour supply in the sector increased just 0.2 per cent from Q2 2023 to Q2 2024, with 111,000 people employed or actively seeking work — a significant drop from Q1 2024 when the labour supply was almost 117,000.
• The total supply of labour across Canada’s trucking and logistics sector in Q2 2024 was up by 2.8 per cent but the supply of transport truck drivers was more stable, increasing by just 0.4 per cent compared to Q2 2023.
• The number of unemployed people in the sector decline by 2,800 from Q2 2023 and the unemployment rate dropped from 4.3 per cent to 1.8 per cent.
• The number of job vacancies decreased by 1,100 positions or 29 per cent in Q1 2024, compared to Q1 2023.

The Alberta snapshot, produced by THRC in partnership with the AMTA, was funded in part by the Government of Alberta.