Alberta Province Profile

Small businesses optimistic about 2010, but concerned about recessionary effects and cash flow; Alberta leads nation in bankruptcies and consumer spending decline; province faces record budget deficit, due partly to weak fuel prices and wood exports.

• Province job growth fell 2.0% in September 2009 from a year ago; national job growth fell 2.1%.
• Province unemployment averaged 7.1% in September 2009; the national average was 8.4%.
• Average weekly earnings rose 4.0% to $943 in July 2009 from a year ago.
• Provincial revenue rose 1.1% in FY 2009 from the previous year.
• Exports fell 39.9% to $38.7 billion in the first seven months of 2009 from a year ago.