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Edmonton, AB – The Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) has released its latest “Business Pulse on Hot Button Issues”, a province‑wide survey that captured business perspectives on issues shaping long term confidence, workforce expectations, and the provincial business climate.
A total of 594 responses were received from respondents across Alberta, with 74 per cent representing the private sector and nearly two-thirds identifying as the senior leader of their organization. The insights were collected through the Alberta Perspectives platform between January 28 and February 6, 2026.
While businesses remain generally optimistic about Alberta’s long‑term future, emerging risks are dampening confidence and shaping business decisions.
Long‑term optimism remains, but signs of caution grow
A majority of respondents (63%) continue to feel positive about Alberta’s long‑term future. This optimism has softened nearly ten points since 2024, however, and expectations for workforce growth have weakened in the past year. Since July 2025, employers anticipating workforce expansion in the next 12 months dropped from 35 per cent to 26 per cent, while those expecting a reduction grew from 5 per cent to 11 per cent.
“Alberta businesses continue to be confident in the province’s long‑term potential,” says Shauna Feth, President and CEO of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce. “But the uncertainty they’re navigating right now, from global economic pressures to domestic policy and political issues, is influencing hiring and other major planning decisions.”
Concern over the state of provincial finances climbed to 80 per cent in 2026, up ten points since mid‑2024, and the highest proportion since 2021.
Alberta separation emerges as top issue
Alberta separation (50%) and the impact of federal policies on Alberta (47%) were most frequently cited among the list of important issues facing Alberta. Alberta separation (30%) and the impact of federal policy (20%) also held the top positions as the most important issue respondents were concerned with, followed by Alberta’s fiscal health (14%) and building a new oil pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast (13%).
Compared to June 2025, there has been some increase in those saying the current discourse around Alberta separation is having an impact on their business while majorities continue to say the discourse is impacting the provincial economy:
- 28 per cent say it is impacting their business (+6%).
- 56 per cent say it is impacting the provincial economy (+3%).
Among respondents reporting the discourse is having an impact to their business or the economy, more than nine-in-ten describe these impacts as negative – driven by planning uncertainty, recession concerns, reduced investment confidence, and decisions to explore relocation out of the province.
The research also reveals that:
- 96 per cent say strengthening local and domestic supply chains to be a national priority.
- 78 per cent say renewing the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is important for Alberta businesses with 42 per cent saying this is ‘vitally important’.
ACC emphasizes need for stability and competitiveness
“These findings highlight the importance of stability and alignment that strengthens Alberta’s economic outlook,” says Feth. “The federal and provincial governments have been increasingly collaborative through the Alberta–Ottawa MOU and the recent agreement in principle to streamline regulatory processes for major projects. These are positive steps, but they don’t materially address the impacts federal policy has had in the province.”
“The fastest way to rebuild confidence is to turn commitments into tangible outcomes that improve competitiveness and provide certainty businesses can rely on.”
View the Full Report here
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