Alberta

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Employment in Alberta

Updated on: February 24, 2025

Currency

Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Employer Taxes

There are no specific employer tax requirements.

Payroll Frequency

Bi-weekly or semi-monthly

Language

English

Date Format

YYYY/MM/DD

Alberta By The Numbers

4.6 million

Population

$400 billion

GDP

National Holidays

Province Information

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Weekly Working Hours

44 hours, overtime > 44 hours/week

National Holidays

New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Civic Holiday (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day (statutory in some provinces)
Christmas Day
Boxing Day (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)

Leave

Paid general holidays include 9 days – such as New Year’s Day and Canada Day – while vacation benefits consist of 2 weeks after 1 year of employment (equivalent to 4% of wages) and 3 weeks after 5 years (equivalent to 6% of wages).

Employment Contracts

No federal law or provincial mandates written employment contracts but they are highly recommended to address locally mandated issues.

Types of Employment

There are two types of employment: Employees and Independent Contractors.

Employment Costs

Wages/Salary – Base pay agreed upon with the employee.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Contributions – Employers match employee contributions. In 2024, the CPP rate is 5.95% on earnings between $3,500 and the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE), which is $68,500 for 2024.
Employment Insurance (EI) Premiums – Employers pay 1.4 times the employee contribution. In 2024, the employer rate is 2.282% on insurable earnings up to the annual maximum of $63,200.
Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Premiums – Rates vary by industry but typically range from $0.20 to $5+ per $100 of assessable earnings.

Additional Potential Costs

Vacation Pay – Minimum of 4% (two weeks) of earnings for employees with less than 5 years of service, and 6% (three weeks) for those with 5+ years.
Statutory Holiday Pay – Required for eligible employees, calculated based on the Alberta Employment Standards.
Overtime Pay – 1.5 times the regular wage for overtime hours, unless an averaging agreement is in place.
Group Benefits (Optional but Common) – Health, dental, life insurance, and disability coverage may cost 4–10% of an employee’s salary.
Pension or RRSP Matching (Optional) – Many employers contribute to retirement savings plans, typically 3–5% of salary.

IC Class Factors

Independent Contractor (IC) classification factors include the following: Degree of control of worker; Provision of own tools; Financial risk in own business; Responsibility for hired workers; Chance for profit; Degree of integration into the client’s work flow; Intent of the parties; Written contract

Labor Leasing

Labour leasing is not specifically regulated, but agencies must comply with employment standards, including wage and overtime provisions.

Minimum Wage Requirements

The minimum wage is $15.00.

Medical Benefits

Medical insurance is managed by the individual provinces. There is no requirement for medical benefits, but employers must adhere to employment contract terms if provided.

Probationary Periods

The probationary period lasts for 3 months, during which no termination notice is required.

Termination Notice

Termination Notice or Pay in Lieu of Notice (Without Cause)

If an employer terminates an employee without cause, they must provide written notice or pay in lieu of notice, based on the employee’s length of service:

Length of Service	Minimum Notice or Pay in Lieu
90 days to < 2 years	1 week
2 years to < 4 years	2 weeks
4 years to < 6 years	4 weeks
6 years to < 8 years	5 weeks
8 years to < 10 years	6 weeks
10+ years	8 weeks

Pay in lieu of notice must equal what the employee would have earned during the notice period.
Employers can provide a combination of working notice and pay.

Severance

Severance is tied to the facts of termination.

Pre-hire Checks

Pre-hire checks are permitted with consent and must be relevant to the job.

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