Job prospects Emergency Medical Attendant (EMA) in the Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake Region

Over the past few years (2021-2023), there was a labour shortage for Paramedical occupations in the Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake Region. There were more job openings than workers available to fill them in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Assessment Methodology

The employment outlook will be moderate for Paramedical occupations (NOC 32102) in the Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake region for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Alberta’s population and its proportion of residents aged 65+ are predicted to increase over the next 20 years, contributing to demand for this occupation. Alberta’s Budget 2023 allocates $24.5 billion for health services in 2023-24, an increase of $965 million or 4.1% from 2022-23, including $196 million in operating expenses over three years for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to hire more staff and implement recommendations made by the Alberta EMS Provincial Advisory Committee to reduce ambulance wait times across the province. Alberta plans to reform the management structure of Alberta Health Services this year which may have implications for job seekers.

Here are some key facts about Paramedical occupations in the Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake region:

• Approximately 140 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Paramedical occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services and hospitals (NAICS 621-622): 73%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 12%
  • Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211, 213): 9%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 5%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology