Office of Statistics and Information

Alberta low income measure based on the Census of Population This dashboard presents low income indicators using data from Statistics Canada's Census of Population for 2021. Results are available for Alberta, and selected census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and Census Divisions (CDs) within Alberta. The Census of Population dashboard is suitable for analyzing detailed information within small areas and demographic groups, in a single point in time. What this dashboard measures The analysis uses the Low Income Measure (LIM), a relative threshold defining low income as falling below 50% of median adjusted household income. The adjustment accounts for the varying needs of families, based on their size and makeup. For instance, while two people living together generally face higher housing costs than someone living alone, their combined costs are not necessarily double, since sharing allows for some savings through economies of scale. Four indicators are tracked: Low income: below LIM50, the core low income threshold Shallow poverty: between LIM40 and LIM50 Deep poverty: below LIM40 At risk of poverty: between LIM50 and LIM60 Together, these thresholds capture both the incidence and depth of low income. The shallow, deep, and at-risk classifications follow methodologies used by established academic and policy institutions, including Eurostat and the Canadian Poverty Institute. Province-specific thresholds Statistics Canada calculates LIM thresholds using national-level income data. This dashboard uses custom tabulations of the Census of Population to produce an Alberta-specific LIM, where thresholds are based on provincial median income rather than the national median. This approach better reflects local income conditions and allows for more meaningful comparisons. The Census of Population The Census of Population provides a detailed statistical portrait of Canada and is the main national source of socioeconomic information for detailed population groups and small geographies. It is conducted every five years. For the 2021 Census, income and low income indicators refer to the 2020 calendar year. Important limitations Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. No single income-based indicator can fully capture the experience of poverty across diverse geographies and populations. Census-based indicators are especially useful for spatial and demographic analysis, but they are less suitable for tracking year-to-year change as the Census of Population is only conducted every five years. For a better understanding of time trends, please visit the Canadian Income Survey dashboard. These thresholds are intended strictly for analytical purposes, such as estimating low income incidence rates and informing research. The Alberta Office of Statistics and Information (OSI) does not recommend their use for determining eligibility for government assistance, benefits, or means-tested programs. Last updated: August 2026

Alberta low income measure based on the Canadian Income Survey This dashboard presents low income indicators using data from Statistics Canada's Canadian Income Survey (CIS), covering 2015 to 2024. Results are available for Alberta, a selection of other provinces, and selected census metropolitan areas (CMAs) across Canada. The Canadian Income Survey dashboard is best suited for analyzing low income over time across larger geographic areas. What this dashboard measures The analysis uses the Low Income Measure (LIM), a relative threshold defining low income as falling below 50% of median adjusted household income. The adjustment accounts for the varying needs of families, based on their size and makeup. For instance, while two people living together generally face higher housing costs than someone living alone, their combined costs are not necessarily double, since sharing allows for some savings through economies of scale. Four indicators are tracked: Low income: below LIM50 (the core low income threshold) Shallow poverty: between LIM40 and LIM50 Deep poverty: below LIM40 At risk of poverty: between LIM50 and LIM60 Together, these thresholds capture both the incidence and depth of low income. The shallow, deep, and at-risk classifications follow methodologies used by established academic and policy institutions, including Eurostat and the Canadian Poverty Institute. Province-specific thresholds Statistics Canada calculates LIM thresholds using national-level income data. This dashboard uses custom tabulations of the CIS to produce a province-specific LIM, where thresholds are based on provincial median income rather than the national median. This approach better reflects local income conditions and allows for more meaningful comparisons within and across provinces. The Canadian Income Survey (CIS) This dashboard uses custom tabulations from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey (CIS), a national survey that collects detailed income information for Canadians. The latest available data are for 2023, with the release of 2024 data in Spring 2026. Indicators are broken down by age group, gender, and other demographic characteristics, enabling targeted analysis of populations disproportionately affected by low income, including children, seniors, and working-age adults. Important limitations Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. No single income-based indicator can fully capture the experience of poverty across diverse geographies and populations. CIS-based indicators are especially useful for tracking changes in the trends of low income indicators across time. However, they are less suitable for detailed demographic and geographic region comparisons, as surveys rely on samples which may not fully represent the complete reality of smaller regions and demographic groups. For a better understanding of specific groups and geographies, please visit the Census-based dashboard. These thresholds are intended strictly for analytical purposes, such as estimating low income incidence rates and informing research. The Alberta Office of Statistics and Information (OSI) does not recommend their use for determining eligibility for government assistance, benefits, or means-tested programs. Last updated: August 2026

Alberta Official Poverty based on the Market Basket Measure This dashboard presents low income indicators using data from Statistics Canada's Market Basket Measure, Canada's Official Poverty line since 2018. Results are available for provinces and selected regions across Canada. What this dashboard measures The analysis uses the Market Basket Measure, Canada's official poverty line. It is an absolute measure of poverty based on the cost of a basket of goods and services needed for a modest, basic standard of living, developed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The basket covers food, clothing, footwear, transportation, communication services and other expenses for a reference family of two adults and two children. The thresholds consider the regional cost of living differences across Canada, being priced for 65 regions across Canada. These thresholds are then compared to equivalized disposable income to determine low income status. The Poverty Reduction Act (2019) mandates regular reviews of the basket to reflect current standards of living. This dashboard reports on the 2023-base MBM, reflecting consumption patterns in 2023. For more information on 2023-base MBM and other indicators, please consult OSI's resource guide and Statistics Canada's analytical paper . For data specific to Alberta, please consult publications on the Market Basket Measure from the Alberta Office of Statistics and Information. Important limitations Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. No single income-based indicator can fully capture the experience of poverty across diverse geographies and populations. These thresholds are intended strictly for analytical purposes, such as estimating low income incidence rates and informing research. The Alberta Office of Statistics and Information (OSI) does not recommend their use for determining eligibility for government assistance, benefits, or means-tested programs. The Government of Canada defines the Market Basket Measure as the official Canada poverty measure; however, supplementary indicators as observed in Statistics Canada's Dimensions of Poverty Hub can provide further information about the multidimensional nature of poverty. Last updated: August 2026

Notes About the Data The only location information included in the data is the location of the registered offices or head offices of the organizations. Many organizations have Alberta Legal Land Description (LLD) for their registered office because they are allowed to. City/Town/County information does not form part of the LLD. Although some of these organizations have voluntarily supplied these details that have been included in the data, you may find some newer active organizations with missing location information. For older records, some data entry errors in the postal codes of the organizations' registered or head offices are possible. Consequently, location data should be used with caution. Source: Alberta Non-Profit Listing

Methodology The Alberta Wage and Salary Survey is conducted every two years The 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey was conducted by R.A. Malatest and Associates Ltd on behalf of Alberta ministries of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration and Arts, Culture and Status of Women. The full methodology report is available at: Alberta wage and salary survey : methodology report About the Data The Alberta Wage and Salary Survey is conducted every two years. For the 2023 survey, valid data were collected between May and November 2023 for 6,000 employers, employing over 330,000 workers covering over 11,400 business locations in Alberta. A total of 965 non-profits completed the survey, reporting data on over 34,000 employees. The data collected provided wage information for: occupation type geographic location industry group, and starting wages, average wages and top wages For various occupations, the data collected from employers included: average hours worked average wage/salary for all employees currently employed starting wage/salary for entry-level employees top (maximum) wage/salary incidence of hiring difficulties over the past two years number of vacancies unfilled for over four months. The statistics calculated are weighted survey results based on the responses from an employer sample that is representative of employers by region and by industry. Thus the results should be considered estimates of the actual wages and salaries paid by employers in Alberta. As with all sample surveys, the results may be subject to sources of sample error (such as variation of the average for the survey sample from the true average for the entire population) and non-response bias (characteristic differences between survey respondents and non-respondents. Accessing the Data Wage rates for Alberta are reported for 380 of the 516 five-digit National Occupation Classifications (NOC) 2021. The 2021 NOC structure includes several changes from the 2016 NOC structure. Previous years of data collection used the 2016 NOC structure (2021 cycle), 2011 NOC structure (2015, 2017,2019 cycles) and 2006 NOC structure 2009,2011,2013 cycles) Wage rates by occupation are available at the provincial level and for the eight Statistics Canada Economic Regions in Alberta. The Economic Regions in Alberta are: Athabasca-Grande Prairie Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House Calgary Camrose-Drumheller Edmonton Lethbridge-Medicine Hat Red Deer, and Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake The Non-profit Sector is composed of the following subgroups. These groups are aggregations of the 12 classifications in the International Classification of Non-profit Organizations (ICNO). Culture and Recreation Social Services; development and housing; health, education and research (excluding K-12 schools receiving public funding and public post-secondary) Religion Other Non-profits (Environment; law, advocacy and politics; philanthropic intermediaries and promotion of volunteerism; international; business and professional associations; unions; others not elsewhere classified. Terms and Definitions: Hiring Difficulty (of those that hired): Of employers that had recruited to a given occupation in the past two years, the per cent that reported experiencing difficulty hiring to that occupation. Information Disclaimer: It is important to note that the results of the Alberta Wage and Salary Survey are estimates based on a sample of employers. In order to make an informed wage and salary decision, we recommend you research other wage sources to supplement the Alberta Wage and Salary Survey results. Due to changes in survey methodology from year to year, trend information is intended to serve as a guide only and should be used with caution.

This dashboard presents Alberta's population projections for 2026–2051, which illustrates how the province's population could change in the future under specific assumptions about fertility, mortality, and migration. Results are available for the province and the various sub-provincial areas. Projections are long-term demographic models that show how the population might evolve under plausible scenarios, rather than exact future predictions.