8 in 10 Job Applicants Ask About Housing, Bow Valley Employer Says It’s Limiting Hiring

Employers in the Bow Valley are ramping up hiring ahead of the summer tourism season, but say a tighter labour pool and rising housing costs are making it increasingly difficult to fill positions.

The hiring push comes as the Job Resource Centre hosts its annual spring job fairs, which connect workers with employers in Banff and Canmore ahead of the summer tourism season.

At one Canmore-based employer, demand for staff is already higher than last year.

“We currently have 43 active job postings, which is higher than this time last year,” a representative from Basecamp Resorts said, attributing the increase largely to expansion, including the opening of the Everwild Canmore Nordic Spa & Hotel and additional hiring across departments such as housekeeping, food service and corporate roles.

The increase in job postings reflects a broader trend across the region. A fall 2025 labour market review from the Job Resource Centre found job postings in the Bow Valley rose 12% between May and October compared with the previous year, even as the available workforce tightened amid high housing costs and fewer international workers available to employers.

Employers say hiring remains challenging, with converting applicants into long-term staff an ongoing issue.

Basecamp Resorts said it does not track applicant nationality and could not determine what proportion of applicants are Canadian or how conversion rates compare, but noted fewer applications this year.

“We have seen fewer applications coming through across the board, which has limited the pool of skilled candidates available for our hiring managers to choose from,” the company said.

At the same time, the company remains partly reliant on temporary workers to maintain operations.

“Approximately 34% of our current workforce is on temporary working arrangements,” the company said, adding that those workers support a range of departments across its properties.

Housing continues to be one of the most significant barriers to hiring and retention, according to employers.

“Housing availability has a significant impact on our ability to recruit and retain staff,” Basecamp said. “Approximately 8 out of 10 applicants inquire about staff accommodation, and for most, it is a deciding factor.”

The company said it assesses accommodation needs early in the hiring process, meaning it is uncommon for candidates to formally decline offers due to housing.

The pressure is being felt by workers as well.

Jimmy Stevens, a Bow Valley resident working in the service industry, said finding both housing and stable employment has become increasingly difficult.

“It was difficult to find an affordable place to live,” he said, noting he and his partner recently had to move after being pushed out of their previous lease.

The move came with significantly higher rent, prompting him to rethink his employment options.

“My monthly bills just went up, so I had to search out a new job,” Stevens said.

Despite having multiple post-graduate college certificates in marketing and events, Stevens said he has been unable to find work in his field that pays enough to cover the cost of living in the Bow Valley.

“Most jobs that are available pay $20 or less per hour,” he said. “I can’t even afford to apply for them.”

Instead, he has taken a serving job to make ends meet, even as he continues to pursue work in his field on the side.

That gap is also affecting long-term retention, with Stevens saying he may eventually have to leave the region if he cannot find sustainable work in his field.

“If I don’t get a career job in the next couple years it may become impossible to stay,” he said.

Employers say housing constraints are limiting who can realistically take jobs in the region, even when positions are available, with many applicants considering staff accommodation essential when deciding whether to accept a role.

The Job Resource Centre’s labour market review found rental prices in the Bow Valley remain high, with one-bedroom units exceeding $2,000 per month and larger units significantly higher, putting pressure on both workers and employers.

Businesses say the challenge will be not just attracting workers, but ensuring they can afford to stay.

“What we’re seeing is that accommodation is often the deciding factor,” Basecamp said, highlighting the role housing plays in shaping hiring outcomes across the region.

As the spring hiring season continues, employers and workers alike point to the same constraint: a labour market where jobs are available, but the cost of living limits who can take them, and how long they can stay.