Financial anxiety surges across Canada — and Edmonton is hit harder than most

New data shows people in Edmonton are carrying some of the heaviest emotional burdens regarding money in the province.

Key Findings — Edmonton & Alberta

• 64% of Alberta residents report anxiety thinking about their finances (15-point jump since October 2025) — higher than the national average of 60%
• 48% of Alberta residents are now living month-to-month (up from 32% in 2025) — a 16-point increase
• 65% of Edmontonians report anxiety thinking about their finances — the highest rate in the province
• 38% of Alberta workers report difficulty concentrating at work or school due to financial stress (vs. 34% national average)
• 26% of Edmontonians have personally experienced poverty — higher than the national average of 22%

EDMONTON, JUNE 9, 2026 – Two in five people in Canada are struggling to put food on the table. Forty per cent are losing sleep over how they’ll stretch their paycheque according to the United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC) Financial Anxiety Index poll released today, conducted by Léger.

In Edmonton and across Alberta, the crisis is hitting even harder. Financial anxiety in Alberta has spiked 15 points since October 2025 to reach 64% — already exceeding the national average. Nearly half the province (48%) is now living month-to-month with no financial buffer, up from just 32% last year. And in Edmonton specifically, 65% of residents report anxiety about their finances, the highest in the province.

“These findings reflect the daily experiences of people struggling to keep up with rising costs and growing financial strain. Across Canada, individuals and families are feeling the effects today, and in Edmonton we are seeing the pressure intensify at a troubling pace.” — Rob Yager, President & CEO of United Way of the Alberta Capital Region

The human cost: food, sleep and daily life

The financial pressure is taking a measurable toll on basic well-being and daily function across Alberta:

• 44% report difficulty sleeping because of finances (vs. 40% nationally)
• 41% are experiencing signs of food insecurity (vs. 38% nationally)

The data reveals not just the depth of financial stress, but also the speed at which it is intensifying.

• Nearly two-thirds of Albertans (64%) say thinking about their finances makes them feel anxious, higher than the national average of 60%.
• Alberta experienced a 15-point increase in financial anxiety in just six months, rising from 49% to 64%.
• Nearly half the province (48%) is now living month-to-month, a significant spike from just 32% in 2025.
• More than half of Albertans (54%) describe their financial situation as “OK” or worse, meaning they are either just getting by or actively struggling.
• 35% of residents now know someone who cannot meet basic needs (up 15 points from 2025), and the province has seen a 16-point surge in residents living month-to-month with no financial cushion.

What this tells us is that financial vulnerability is no longer limited to a small segment of the population. Increasingly, people who once felt financially secure are feeling pressure.

Community solutions at work in Greater Edmonton

In Greater Edmonton, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region raised $24.5 million in 2025 to support vital programs that directly benefit more than 400,000 people in the region. Through initiatives like Empower U — which combines financial education, one-on-one coaching and matched savings — participants saved $91,000 in 2025. 81 per cent of the 289 people that participated in 2025 made progress toward their financial goals.

United Way’s newly launched Building Financial Futures initiative is now providing free tax filing, government benefits support, and financial literacy education to families across Greater Edmonton, Central, and Northern Alberta.

The survey data highlights the critical importance of a strong community safety net and shows that when Edmontonians do use the supports, they deliver real relief:

• 42% of those who accessed community organization support reported a positive impact on their financial situation
• 40% said community programs helped them manage their financial anxiety

“No one should have to choose between food, housing, and their well-being. Yet growing financial pressures are forcing more Albertans into difficult situations. While community supports are making a difference, the data is clear: need is rising, and it will take collective action to ensure people get the help they need before the impacts deepen.” — Rob Yager, President & CEO, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region

United Way of the Alberta Capital Region invests in programs, services, and partnerships that strengthen financial stability and community well-being across the region. This work includes:

• Supporting access to basic needs and essential community services
• Investing in programs that build resilience and long-term financial stability
• Strengthening the nonprofit sector’s capacity to respond to growing community needs

United Way’s goal is not only to help people navigate immediate challenges, but to build stronger, more connected communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Donate to United Way now at myunitedway.ca

About United Way of the Alberta Capital Region 

United Way of the Alberta Capital Region unites changemakers in the Edmonton area to address complex community issues. Our focus is to create impactful, systemic change by strengthening mental wellbeing, eliminating educational barriers, and empowering financial security to build strong, connected, and resilient communities where no one is left behind.  

For more information, please contact David Odumade, director of Brand, Marketing and Product, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region at [email protected]. 

About the UWCC Financial Anxiety Index 

A Léger web survey was conducted among 8,014 Canadians aged 18 or older, between February 17 to March 11, 2026. Results were weighted according to gender, age, mother tongue, region, education level, and personal and family income to ensure a representative sample of the population. The national sample of respondents would have a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1%, 19 times out of 20. 

About Léger 

Léger is the largest Canadian-owned polling, market research, and analytics firm, with over 300 employees in Canada and the United States. Léger has been working with prestigious clients since 1986. For more information: leger360.com.