The Region’s young, diverse population provides an energetic and productive workforce.

The area draws employees from within a 45-minute drive radius. This drive radius is equivalent to Statistics Canada Census Division 8. Division 8 has a population of over 160,000 people and has created over 22,000 jobs in the past decade constituting a 33% growth rate. The active labour force within this radius is 93,100—equivalent to a 74.5% participation rate.

Alberta has the highest worker productivity and productivity growth rate in Canada.

Almost 35% of the Region’s employed population holds technical diplomas or certificates—approximately 10% higher than the national average. An additional 15% have some level of post-secondary training. This provides a highly skilled population of professional trades for manufacturing, construction, petrochemical and high-tech industries.

Red Deer College is one of the driving factors behind the educated workforce. It offers a diverse array of programs: applied degree; degree completion; university transfer; certificate and diploma; academic upgrading; trades & industrial training; distance learning; international opportunities and extension & part-time learning. The College also provides industry specific training to meet specialized skill requirements.