The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) is taking aim at the UCP government following a report highlighting a steep wage decline across the province.
A new report by the Centre for Future Work says that Alberta’s wage advantage has disappeared, with wages taking a major hit in the last decade. In 2013, Alberta boasted average hourly wages 17% higher than the national average, but by 2024, it had dwindled to less than 2%.
Since 2013, real hourly wages in Alberta have fallen by 4.5%, the worst decline in Canada, affecting nearly every sector, including petroleum and mining.
The report also highlights the continued erosion of Alberta’s minimum wage, which has remained unchanged at $15 per hour since 2018. Combined with high inflation and weak wage growth, real wages have performed worse in Alberta than in any other province.
AFL president Gil McGowan blamed the UCP for the decline and called on the government to end its “low wage strategy.”
“UCP wage-suppression policies include freezing the minimum wage for over 6 years, making it easier for employers to avoid paying overtime, making it harder for workers to join unions, and secret government bargaining mandates to keep wage increases for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers well-below inflation,” he stated.
“Alberta needs workers, and workers need a raise that keeps up with inflation.”
In response to the report, Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Trade Matt Jones told Daily Hive that he believes the Alberta advantage remains strong.
“Our economy is showing consistent resilience and growth in the face of external challenges. In December 2024, the province added 35,900 full-time jobs, leading Canada in job creation. Over the past year, nearly 100,000 jobs were added, providing good-paying opportunities for families,” Jones said, adding average weekly earnings in Alberta reached $1,352.45 in October 2024, the highest in Canada and a 4.6% increase from the previous year.
He also pointed to record investment in Alberta, including $478 million in venture capital across 61 deals in 2024 and $707 million raised by the province’s tech sector in 2023, defying national trends.
“The Alberta Advantage is here to stay,” he continued. “With a growing economy, record investments, high wages and a business-friendly environment, Alberta is setting the stage for even greater opportunities in 2025 and beyond.”