Small businesses account for nearly 97% of Edmonton’s local economy: census

An aerial image of downtown Edmonton and the Alberta legislature on Dec. 9, 2024. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton)

New data from the City of Edmonton’s third annual business census revealed that 97 per cent of all businesses surveyed are small businesses.

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The survey identified 29,894 businesses, employing 575,197 people. Small businesses are defined by the city as those with fewer than 100 employees.

Some of the largest industries in Edmonton include retail, services (barbers, beauty shops, mechanics, etc.), accommodation and food services, real estate and rental, as well as health care and social assistance.

Combined, these sectors represent 62 per cent of all businesses in the city and provide 43 per cent of jobs, said the city.

Home-based businesses were not included in the survey.

Data from the survey is collected each year from May to August and is conducted by local post-secondary students who do in-person visits to all commercial, industrial and institutional areas in the city as well as online reporting and phone calls.

The city said the data informs city services to help meet the needs of Edmonton’s business community while aiming to provide small businesses with a tool to support their growth.

Local businesses can use the data for various purposes such as identifying local suppliers to reduce costs, mapping competitors when considering new locations and spotting trends that support expansion goals.