Can someone give me some info on alberta canada?

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KatieKane

Yeah, there are LOTS of jobs in Alberta right now, in pretty much all sectors, oil field is taking up alot of employees because they pay well, which leaves everyone else short handed, so forces their wages up, even retail is starting to pay better, walk through any mall and you see help wanted signs on every window. The company my dad works for can't hold onto mechanics to save their life, because they just cant afford to pay what oilfield is willing to pay them. It is true, that accomodations are hard to find right now, but if he is persistant, and possibly willing to share with others, then he will do fine. The only reason I moved away from Alberta is for school, and I was definetly spoiled by how easy it is to get hired there.

urban_boo

My sister moved to Edmonton a year ago. She says that the minimum wage their is not very high. And she had trouble finding a job that would pay what she was looking for. To make good money there it sounds like you have to be in a trade or out on an oil rig. Cost of living there is quite expensive. Also, she lives in a nice area. And she was recently broke into and it took the police almost two hours to show up.

verblender

i think this is the link you are looking for

http://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Living/index.aspx?Page=27

it has the following features:

Calculators
- Currency Converter (Bank of Canada)
- Salary Calculator (Homefair.com)
- Mortgage Rates and Calculators (CanadaMortgage.com)

Price Comparisons and Statistics
- Cost of Living (Economic Development Edmonton)
- Alberta Health Care (Government of Alberta)
- Canadian Econonic Statistics (Government of Canada)
- Gas Prices (EdmontonGasPrices.com)

Housing
- MLS Listings (Edmonton Real-Estate Board)
- Houses for Rent / Sale (Homebase.ca)

lalalyn

I applaud your friend for making such a big move, and I sure hope it pays off for him.
Yes, there is a lot of jobs in Alberta, construction, oil rigs, restaurants, even for people with no particular skills.... and because there is a shortage of workers, even McDonalds are competing to find some people, so it is not unusual to get paid $12/hre to flip burgers or wash dishes ...So yes, it is booming, and your friend will find a job without a problem if he really wants one.
Now, the housing is another story. There are always places to rent, specially if you are willing to commute and live outside Edmonton or Calgary, but the rents are high and although camping is a solution for the summer, you just don't want to be camping in Alberta in the winter!
If you forget the accomodation, the cost of living is comparable to every where else in Canada or even cheaper. They don't have to pay provincial sales tax in Alberta, and personal income tax has a lower rate as well.. If you think there are a lot of places to shop, and they are all competing for your patronage, you can always find good deals for clothing and food, so, I would say that the cost of living is actually better than most provinces.

bc.grown

You're right, Alberta is booming right now. If your friend likes to work, he should have a job within the first few days of moving there. I just moved back from Calgary, and I found there to be work everywhere. The only reason I left was because of my daughters who live in BC with there mother. There are good paying jobs everywhere there.
Good luck to your friend!

Sandra S

Most of the answers are correct in all the previous statements. But you also need to consider that you also pay health care premiums which are about a thousand per yaer for a family and there is also higher auto insurance and all that. It is very tough to find accom.

St N

My brother in law did it many years ago and was not a skilled trade. He was able to make a living. The reason he left was because he had serious issues with the government, not personal, political.

If your friend is currently laid off, he may be eligible for some assistance from Employment Insurance.

Johnny Canuck

Can see the Calgary Tower from my front step.

There is all sorts of work here and it is getting crazier all the time. The Dairy Queen I ate lunch at today will start you at $11/hour. That said I pay probably about $750/month to keep my small two bedroom basement suite and have the lights on. I signed the lease after four weeks of making ten phone calls a day every day. It was the first place I was in time for it to still be available and I just snapped it up. Everyone at work asks me now how I managed to get a place for so cheap. They joke I must be on a subsidy program for the mentally challenged. In the meantime I know of at least three married couples at work that had to move in with relatives when they were evicted so the land lord could convert their apartments into condos. The couple that has been doing this the longest has been at it for four months.

This seems pretty anecdotal, but I think it's the best way to tell you guys the truth about it out here. In the small towns, housing isn't so bad. The prices are climbing quick though, but at least you can find a place to stay. In the case of Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Red Deer and ESPECIALLY Fort McMurray and Calgary times are pretty tough. It's almost impossible to find a place. My recommendation. Stay in Ontario, or Manitoba, or BC. Sure you gotta concern yourself more about keeping a crappy job, but at least you'll have somewhere to live.

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