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Albertans are among the Canadians who are most worried about the security of their jobs and income, according to a new report from consumer insolvency firm MNP Ltd.
The report was based on a survey conducted by the polling firm Ipsos on behalf of MNP.
From a lack of emergency savings to concerns over artificial intelligence (AI), the report says Albertans are disproportionately anxious about a number of factors contributing to financial uncertainty compared to the rest of the country.
Alongside AI worries and economic uncertainty, the report suggests that nearly half of Albertans are now turning to side hustles for additional income to support their everyday lives.
MNP found that nearly three in five Albertans — more than in any other province — say if they lose their jobs, they do not have enough savings to support themselves or their families for six months without borrowing or falling behind on bills.
Sandra Landry, a senior vice-president with MNP, said Albertans’ financial concerns go beyond what they owe.
“The bottom line, really, for Alberta is the story isn’t about debt simply,” she told CBC News on Monday. “It’s about that employment insecurity, that inability to absorb any of the income disruptions that people can go through.
“It does appear to be that Albertans certainly are lacking the confidence that they can handle any of these.”
The report says 61 per cent of working Albertans are worried about job mobility and opportunities — the highest proportion compared to any other province.
“Albertans feel trapped in the jobs that they have,” Landry said.
The report says 47 per cent of Albertans remain on the brink of insolvency, meaning they are $200 or less away from not being able to cover their monthly bills, the highest proportion in the country.
The data also suggests that 41 per cent of Albertans worry AI could negatively affect their employment or income.
Amid these combined economic concerns, the report says 49 per cent of Albertans have tried to earn additional income in some way, including selling goods online, learning new skills, working a second job, monetizing a hobby or taking on freelance work.
Andrew McGee, an associate professor in the department of economics at the University of Alberta, studies the nature of the gig economy. He said as financial pressure increases, so too will the number of people turning to a second source of income.
“We think of the gig economy as just being kind of like Uber and ride-share and delivery drivers, but actually it’s pretty robust. There’s a lot going on out there,” he said.
MacEwan University nursing student Arvin Buensalida told CBC News that while he thinks it is less likely for AI to replace nurses, financial uncertainty is still a big worry, and he is considering picking up a second job after he becomes a nurse.
Another MacEwan University student, Vincent Gamboa, said he’s currently working as a coach while pursuing an arts degree to create a financial cushion. He also said the looming impact of AI on the job market is something he is worried about.
“Honestly, with AI, it’s kind of scary to me,” he said.
Ipsos collected the survey information on behalf of MNP between Sept. 1 and Sept. 8, 2026. It says a sample of 2,001 Canadians aged 18 years and over were interviewed. The poll is accurate to within plus or minus 2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.