Job prospects Police Officer in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "police officer" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

Good

The employment outlook will be good for Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 42100) in Alberta for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

  • Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
  • A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
  • There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
  • Job growth for this occupation depends mainly on demand for police services and government budget allocations for public safety. 
  • Most jobs in the field are with municipal police services, but opportunities also exist in provincial, federal and First Nations police services. 
  • The Alberta government's Budget 2024 is adding 100 police officers in Edmonton and Calgary, as part of the $1.2 billion operating budget for Public Safety and Emergency Services. 
  • Job openings may arise in regions with growing populations.


Here are some key facts about Police officers (except commissioned) in Alberta:

  • Approximately 9,750 people work in this occupation.
  • Police officers (except commissioned) mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 56%
    • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 34%
    • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
  • 89% of police officers (except commissioned) work all year, while 11% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 49 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 79% compared to 53% for all occupations
    • Women: 21% compared to 47% for all occupations
  • The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
    • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
    • high school diploma or equivalent: 22% compared to 28% for all occupations
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 11% compared to 13% for all occupations
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 37% compared to 19% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 27% compared to 21% for all occupations
    • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta by economic region.

Legend

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
3 out of 5 stars
Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good
Location Job prospects
Athabasca–Grande Prairie–Peace River Region Moderate
Banff–Jasper–Rocky Mountain House Region Moderate
Calgary Region Good
Camrose–Drumheller Region Moderate
Edmonton Region Good
Lethbridge–Medicine Hat Region Good
Red Deer Region Good
Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake Region Good

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "police officer" Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 42100) or across Canada.

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Labour Market Information Survey
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