May 16, 2025
With Economic Development Week in full swing, the City of Edmonton invites local businesses to contribute to its third annual by-Edmonton, for-Edmonton business census, which gathers essential data used to guide the City’s economic development strategies, investment attraction efforts and service improvements.
“The insights gathered through the Edmonton Business Census are highly valuable to both the Chamber and the broader business community,” said Doug Griffiths, President and CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. “This data helps us better understand the evolving needs of local businesses, identify emerging trends and ensure we’re supporting our members and the broader business community.”
By participating in this census, businesses play a vital role in building a stronger, more inclusive and thriving economy.
“The business census gives us a clearer picture of Edmonton’s economic landscape,” said Nolan Carter, Senior Economic Development Strategist for Urban Planning and Economy. “By hearing directly from businesses, we can better align our programs and services to support their growth and long-term success.”
Starting today, City summer students will be collecting information about the Edmonton business community, including details on location, industry, employment figures and demographics. This data is crucial for informing City programs and policies, as well as positioning Edmonton as a premier business destination. This information also assists economic development partners and potential investors in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the local business environment.
Students will be conducting door-to-door surveys in several districts, including:
- Central
- North Central
- Scona
- Jasper Place
- Southeast
- West Edmonton
- West Henday
- Whitemud
- Mill Woods and Meadows
- Northwest and Northeast
Businesses in other areas of Edmonton are encouraged to participate online by completing a brief, five-minute questionnaire.
Past Business Census data for 2023 and 2024 is available on the City’s Open Data Portal. Highlights from the 2024 Business Census include:
- In the six districts surveyed in 2024, the census identified 17,655 businesses employing 342,917 people (with 78 per cent in full-time and 22 per cent in part-time roles).
- The biggest sectors by establishment count are Retail Trade (18 per cent), Other Services - such as car repair (14 per cent) and Professional, Scientific and Technical services (10 per cent).
- Over 120 establishments have been in operation for more than 100 years.
- Over 98 per cent of employees work for small businesses (businesses with fewer than 100 employees).
The 2025 census results will be added to the open data portal in early 2026.
