Updated on: October 1, 2025
Currency
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Employer Taxes
There are no specific employer tax requirements.
Payroll Frequency
Bi-weekly or semi-monthly
Employee Taxes
N/A
Language
English
Date Format
YYYY/MM/DD
Alberta by the Numbers
Population
4.6 million
GDP
$400 billion
Weekly Working Hours
44 hours, overtime > 44 hours/week
National Holidays
12
Hiring Difficulty Score
N/A
Weekly Working Hours
National Holidays
Leave
Paid general holidays include 9 days – such as New Year’s Day and Canada Day – while vacation benefits consist of 2 weeks after 1 year of employment (equivalent to 4% of wages) and 3 weeks after 5 years (equivalent to 6% of wages).
Employment Contracts
No federal law or provincial mandates written employment contracts but they are highly recommended to address locally mandated issues.
Types of Employment
There are two types of employment: Employees and Independent Contractors.
Employment Costs
IC Class Factors
Independent Contractor (IC) classification factors include the following: Degree of control of worker; Provision of own tools; Financial risk in own business; Responsibility for hired workers; Chance for profit; Degree of integration into the client’s work flow; Intent of the parties; Written contract
Labor Leasing
Labour leasing is not specifically regulated, but agencies must comply with employment standards, including wage and overtime provisions.
Minimum Wage Requirements
The minimum wage is $15.00.
Medical Benefits
Medical insurance is managed by the individual provinces. There is no requirement for medical benefits, but employers must adhere to employment contract terms if provided.
Probationary Periods
The probationary period lasts for 3 months, during which no termination notice is required.
Termination Notice
If an employer terminates an employee without cause, they must provide written notice or pay in lieu of notice, based on the employee’s length of service:
| Length of Service | Minimum Notice or Pay in Lieu |
|---|---|
| 90 days to < 2 years | 1 week |
| 2 years to < 4 years | 2 weeks |
| 4 years to < 6 years | 4 weeks |
| 6 years to < 8 years | 5 weeks |
| 8 years to < 10 years | 6 weeks |
| 10+ years | 8 weeks |
Severance
Pre-hire Checks
Pre-hire checks are permitted with consent and must be relevant to the job.
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