Business Sectors

From established enterprises to start-ups.

While Calgary is well known as a hub for Canada’s oil and gas industry, our economy has diversified over the years. Calgary is now the second largest head-office city in Canada. We also lead the nation in technology start-up companies. Calgary boasts a highly educated population and the highest labour force participation rate in any Canadian centre.

Energy

Many of the world’s largest international oil and gas companies have established a significant presence alongside their Canadian counter-parts in Calgary. Calgary is home to the majority of Canada’s oil and gas production companies, major pipeline operators, oilfield service and drilling companies, and energy-related engineering and consulting firms. Recently, an industry focused on renewable sources of power has also started to flourish in Calgary with wind as the most promising source of alternative energy.

Finance & Business

Calgary’s finance and business industry is experiencing huge growth with 16,100 new jobs created over the past ten years (1999-2008), an increase of 47.5%.

Transportation & Logistics

Providing a variety of integrated logistics solutions, Calgary is the North American hub for the Pacific Northwest by road, rail and air and is able to move products and people in a manner unparalleled elsewhere in the region. No wonder Canadian Pacific has its Canadian headquarters in Calgary.

Technology

Over half of Alberta’s fastest growing companies are in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. This growth has been felt in the Calgary Region as well, as Calgary is home to the largest number of technology start-ups per capita in Canada.

Manufacturing

Calgary’s manufacturing GDP increased by 33% over the past 5 years (2004-2008). Revenues from manufacturing have increased steadily since 1993, and the industry is now one of the biggest employers in Calgary with approximately 42,000 people at 2,000 businesses generating $5.1 billion yearly.

Emerging Industries

Creative Industries are flourishing in Calgary, among these is the Film Industry. Calgary is best known for the majestic, awe-inspiring scenery central to the imagery and imagination evoked by the frontier of the untamed west. Yet, Calgary’s remarkably diverse geography makes it a very popular setting for a vast range of productions. From the deserts of Afghanistan, to the battlefields of feudal Japan, to a trendy restaurant in Beverly Hills, to New York City, Calgary is a chameleon able to play a wide spectrum of roles. Summer, winter, spring or fall.

More information is available at the Calgary Economic Development website.