There are many opportunities in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo for jobs in the service and retail industries. According to the RMWB Census, in 2006 19 per cent of the workforce in Fort McMurray was employed in the service and retail industries (more recent data is not available by industry).

Generally, positions in these fields do not require schooling until a person gets to management levels, but even then many people often find they can move up in a few years from an entry-level position to supervisor to manager. There is definite room for advancement in this industry. People successful in this industry enjoy customer service, work well with a group and don't mind shift work.

Good places to find job postings are in the Fort McMurray Today classifieds and career ads, and on the Government of Canada Job Bank. View our Employer Websites section for employers that hire in the area.

Also, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service for more information on specific positions and pay.

For more information on Retail Careers, look at the June 2007 Labour Market News.