November 2013 Alberta Economic Fundamentals

[Ally]

Job vacancies help explain Alberta's soaring wages



Alberta`s workers have become accustomed to larger-than-normal wage gains. Thanks to a strong economy, the average weekly wage in the province has grown faster than the national average by a wide margin over the past decade. The result is that today, the average worker in the province earns a wage roughly 25 per cent higher than the national average`which works out to an extra $11,500 per year.





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[Ally]

Bitumen bubble is back, says finance minister



Alberta's finance minister warns the bitumen bubble is "back from its holiday," although the province is banking on getting an extra $1 billion in oilsands royalties this budget year due to strong commodity prices.





Finance Minister Doug Horner said this week the discount price facing the province's bitumen resource is starting to squeeze government coffers again, almost a year after he first warned of its impact on Alberta's bottom line.





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[Ally]

Nisku oilpatch training centre celebrates milestone with expansion plans



NISKU ` Canada`s leading oil and gas training centre celebrated its 25th birthday here Tuesday and announced it will spend $3.7 million to upgrade and expand, adding such items as high-pressure drilling equipment for students.





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