The Employment-Housing Channel of Real Estate Fluctuations

How do changes in the local economy affect housing prices, development, and the types of properties being built? Researchers at the University of Alberta are exploring how economic shocks to local employers influence Alberta's residential and commercial real estate markets.

The project combines detailed employer and workforce data from Statistics Canada with housing sales, price, and building permit data to examine how business performance, migration, and employment trends shape housing demand and new development. By analyzing these relationships at the local level, the research will provide a clearer understanding of how economic conditions influence real estate markets across the province.

The findings will support more informed decision-making by real estate professionals, developers, policymakers, and communities as they respond to changing economic conditions and plan for Alberta's future growth.