Lethbridge-Medicine Hat Economic Region Workforce Insights

August, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 2,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 4,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 1,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,800 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 400 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 600 people from the previous month and increased by 500 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,900 jobs from last month and increased by 3,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and increased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 600 people from the previous month and increased by 500 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 4,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 2,100 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 4,200 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 11,900 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 11,300 workers.
  • Agriculture: 10,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, which together account for 87.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 29,700 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 26,100 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 11,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 56.2% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 2,300 workers (increased by 26.14%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,000 workers (increased by 7.22%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,900 workers (decreased by 14.39%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,400 workers (decreased by 26.42%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,200 workers (decreased by 9.16%).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 7,600 workers (increased by 211.11%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 7,000 workers (decreased by 38.25%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 6,500 workers (increased by 33.16%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,800 workers (decreased by 54.29%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 3,700 workers (decreased by 37.37%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

June, 2026

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Medicine Hat SLA consists of the following communities: Cypress County, Medicine Hat, Redcliff.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment registered 42,140 in June 2026, it expanded by 620 jobs from May and gained 260 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 60.8%. It went up by 0.8 percentage points from May and decreased by 0.0 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 5.4%. It decreased by 0.9 percentage points month-over-month, and declined by 0.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in June 2026 was 42,140, showing a steady increase of 620 from the previous month. Relative to June last year, employment levels grew by 260, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 60.8% in June 2026. This represents a rise of 0.8 percentage points from May (60.0%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.0 percentage points from 60.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.4% in June 2026, down 0.9 percentage points from May. Compared to June last year (5.9%), the rate has decreased by 0.5 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.06) between regional and local employment levels indicates relatively independent employment patterns. This suggests that local employment dynamics are largely independent from regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.03) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.03 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Medicine Hat SLA consists of the following communities: Cypress County, Medicine Hat, Redcliff.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

June, 2026

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level

Medicine Hat SLA consists of the following communities: Cypress County, Medicine Hat, Redcliff.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in June 2026 was 42,140, showing a steady increase of 620 from the previous month. Relative to June last year, employment levels grew by 260, showing strength.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 60.8% in June 2026. This represents a rise of 0.8 percentage points from May (60.0%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.0 percentage points from 60.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.4% in June 2026, down 0.9 percentage points from May. Compared to June last year (5.9%), the rate has decreased by 0.5 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.03) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.03 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,900 jobs from last month and increased by 3,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and increased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 600 people from the previous month and increased by 500 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 4,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 2,100 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 4,200 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 11,900 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 11,300 workers.
  • Agriculture: 10,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, which together account for 87.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 29,700 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 26,100 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 11,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 56.2% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 2,300 workers (increased by 26.14%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,000 workers (increased by 7.22%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,900 workers (decreased by 14.39%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,400 workers (decreased by 26.42%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,200 workers (decreased by 9.16%).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 7,600 workers (increased by 211.11%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 7,000 workers (decreased by 38.25%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 6,500 workers (increased by 33.16%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,800 workers (decreased by 54.29%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 3,700 workers (decreased by 37.37%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026
Economic region

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Medicine Hat ranks 45th with an employment rate of 60.8%. The provincial range is 48.2% to 77.8%, with half of areas between 60.7% and 65.8% (median: 63.5%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Medicine Hat ranks 20th with an unemployment rate of 5.4%. The provincial range is 4.3% to 9.8%, with half of areas between 5.2% and 6.4% (median: 5.7%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey August, 2026

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (geography)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization size)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization type)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by business size

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by organization type

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by geography

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (geography)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization size)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization type)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by business size

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by organization type

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by geography

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions