Boom or bust, there's never a dull moment in Calgary's employment scene. There are a number of well-established, high-quality employers whose headquarters are stationed in the downtown core. Truth be told, there are a lot of great employers in Calgary.

This city is known for oil and gas, but Calgary's economy is more diversified than you may think. Calgary has warehouse and manufacturing sectors, regional head offices for banks, insurance companies and law firms, transportation, and alternative energy companies. Some of Calgary's top employers include the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Top Employers in Calgary

Calgary's economy is becoming increasingly diversified and the workforce is spread across a wide range of industries. Here are some of Calgary's top employers and why they've been recognized as a great workplace.

• Suncor is a globally competitive energy company and one of Calgary's largest employers, providing jobs for around 15,000 people. Suncor awards its employees with pensions, benefits, and career development programs.
• Aecon has been recognized both provincially and nationally as one of the best places to work because of its safety-first culture and profit sharing. Other benefits at this construction and infrastructure company include employee wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, defined contribution pension plans, and more.
• Big Rock Brewery is Canada's biggest independent craft brewery. It offers benefits like an employee assistance program and retirement savings plan—and beer, of course.
• Enerflex Limited makes industrial machinery and equipment. Part of the draw for employees are the personal development plans and comprehensive benefits.
• The Calgary Airport Authority employs around 280 people, and offers up to 37.5 hours of paid leave annually for family-related responsibilities.
• Enbridge Inc., an energy infrastructure company with over 7,600 employees, is dedicated to giving back to the community. Employees can receive up to 16 hours each year to volunteer with non-profits and charities.
• ENMAX Corporation is another civic-minded Calgary company; this electricity company donates thousands of hours of company time and matches employee donations up to $1,200.
• Gibson Energy Inc. is an energy firm based in Calgary. This company is attracting employees because of its flexible benefits plan, which include a matching retirement plan and dependent scholarship program. It also offers mental health service coverage for employees and dependents.
• WestJet has a profit sharing plan that's available to all employees and an RRSP matching plan for up to 20% of your salary.
• Cenovus Energy Inc. employs over 5,000 in the petroleum industry and offers 100% health premium coverage to retired employees with no age limit.
• Fluor Canada Ltd. has an exceptionally flexible benefits plan. Employees at this engineering firm can allocate credits to health and wellness spending, salary and savings, or additional PTO.
• FortisAlberta Inc. invests in the future, offering post-secondary scholarships of up to $1,500 annually to children of employees.
• PCL Constructors Inc. is a construction company that builds commercial and institutional developments. This company is committed to its employees and offers an on-site fitness facility, retirement planning services, and a defined contribution pension plan. It also offers custom training courses, in-house apprenticeships, and other learning initiatives to help employees build their skills.
• Bennett Jones LLP is a legal services provider and offers its nearly 1,000 employees an array of social events, comprehensive health insurance, and more.
• Dentons Canada LLP is another law firm in Calgary, employing over 1,400. It's recognized for its excellent parental leave benefits of up to 26 weeks of 100% paid leave.
• ATCO Group does energy, transportation, and infrastructure development. The company offers various insurance discounts as well as discounted auto lease rates to its 5,300+ employees.

These are just some of the great employers in Calgary. The province of Alberta is the heart of the country's energy sector, and this industry is a key driver of Calgary's economy.

In addition to this, Calgary boasts a tremendous small business population; small businesses make up more than 95% of all business in Calgary, and the city boasts one of the largest numbers of small businesses per capita among major Canadian cities. Self-starters are another prominent sector in the workforce, as Calgary also features one of the highest per-capita rates of self-employment.

If you're thinking about moving to Calgary there's no doubt that you will be able to find (or make!) a great job.

If you're looking for the latest Calgary relocation and real estate information, be sure to check out our Calgary Relocation Guide or learn more about some of Calgary's top recruitment firms.

Top Industries in Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, is a vibrant hub for a diverse range of key industries, each contributing significantly to its economic landscape.

As Canada's leading oil and natural gas producer, Alberta's energy sector is a cornerstone of Calgary's economy, encompassing both traditional petroleum operations and burgeoning clean energy initiatives.

With one of Canada's busiest airports and the headquarters of two major airlines, Calgary is a bustling hub for aerospace development and related industries such as geospatial data analysis, navigation and communication equipment, software and hardware development, and manufacturing.

The agribusiness sector thrives here due to Southern Alberta's advantageous conditions, which include a sunny climate, abundant water resources, and nearly 70% of Canada's irrigated land, making it ideal for large-scale crop and livestock production.

Financial services are also a key component of Calgary's industry, supported by a high concentration of capital-intensive firms and frequent significant financial transactions.

The city's creative industries, including film, video games, and other digital media, are thriving, with facilities like the Rocky Mountain Film Studio and a strong community in the Calgary Game Developers Association.

Furthermore, life sciences flourish under Alberta's unique province-wide fully integrated healthcare system, which facilitates extensive medical research through access to patient data.

Lastly, Calgary's technology sector is rapidly expanding, boasting the highest concentration of high-tech workers in the country and significant investments in tech education and skill development.

Together, these industries create a dynamic economic environment in Calgary.

Moving To Calgary For Work

Calgary employers are always seeking top talent, no matter the economic climate. If you are considering moving to Calgary and are looking at many of our city's top employers, it's easy to perform online searches to see what positions are available. When relocating, for whatever reason, it's a good idea to visit Calgary and see for yourself.

Assistance with relocating to Calgary is at the top of most Calgary employers' minds. Before accepting a position, it's important to do the research to make sure you and anyone making the move with you will enjoy living in Calgary. Things to consider are:

• Where is your employer located, and how close to work do you want to be? In some of Calgary's best neighbourhoods, you can walk to jobs downtown.
• Will you need public transportation, or will you drive? LRT stations put neighbourhoods in every quadrant of Calgary within reach of public transit to the city centre.
• What kind of lifestyle do you want—urban nightlife or suburban tranquillity?
• What type of housing do you require, and what is your budget?
• Do you need to live near a certain type of school? Schools in Calgary are served by multiple school boards, and Calgary offers public, private, and religious schools. There are several language immersion schools in the system.

Calgary employers will generally pay employees a salary commensurate with the local cost of living. Calgary housing ranks second in Canada for monthly rents, but is not as expensive as Vancouver or Toronto.

When researching Calgary employers, find out how much support they will provide when it comes to:

• Selling your current home
• Moving your possessions
• Travel costs (airfare, gas, vehicle rental, meals, hotel)
• Purchasing a new home

Some Calgary employers use relocation services to assist with employee relocations.

The Calgary Work Environment

Employers are often ranked by various organizations and media publications, providing prospective employees a glimpse into employee satisfaction. A search will uncover the top-ranked employers in Calgary who meet or exceed specific criteria.

Many of Calgary's top employers have won local and prestigious national awards for human resources, workplace ethics, performance management, and inclusive culture. Some of the criteria for which they have been nominated include the physical workplace, the atmosphere and social aspects of the workplace, community involvement, and attitudes towards work/life balance.

Employee communication ranks high among many Calgary employers. There are great benefits, including extended health care, insurance, vacation and personal days, volunteer days, training and skills development, and much more.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Calgary Employer

In order to compete on the global stage with other employers, Calgary employers are constantly assessing programs and employee benefits to ensure they remain fair and competitive. Employee retention is critical to the success of any employer.

Calgary employers are front and centre in many of our city's major festivals and charitable events. That starts with the Calgary Stampede, where many employers buy sponsorships, host pancake breakfasts, throw barbecues, rent suites at the world-famous chuck wagon races, and give employees time off to entertain clients at various functions.

Volunteering is the hallmark of Calgary's corporate culture. Calgary employers are known to give employees volunteer days or choose charitable events such as the Calgary Corporate Challenge or Food Bank drives where groups of employees give their time and talent to help a worthy cause.

Relocating to Calgary? The Justin Havre Team are Calgary relocation experts. Get in touch today with your questions about moving to Calgary.