Pumpjacks and hay bales on the Alberta prairie
By the numbers

Oil and natural gas: backbone of the Alberta economy

By any measure, a competitive oil and natural gas industry is vital to jobs and prosperity for all Albertans.

In Alberta, oil and natural gas development supports:

  • 30% of all economic activity in the province;
  • 415,000 jobs for Albertans, including those from spin-off economic benefits;
  • 20,000 businesses that directly or indirectly depend on oil and gas activity, including 399 Indigenous-owned businesses;
  • $3.33 billion in economic activity generated by these business between 2015 and 2016. 

As a result of oil and natural gas activity, the provincial government receives:

  • $4.8 billion in resource revenues (e.g. royalties);
  • $185 million in provincial corporate income taxes;
  • $1.5 billion in personal income taxes;
  • $1.25 billion in the municipal portion of property taxes.