Lethbridge-Medicine Hat Economic Region Workforce Insights

April, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 1,400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 3,100 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 4,600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 1,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 300 people from the previous month and increased by 100 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 3,100 jobs from last month and decreased by 4,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,700 jobs from last month and increased by 2,000 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 300 people from the previous month and increased by 100 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 1,400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 1,400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,600 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing: 14,200 workers.
  • Agriculture: 13,800 workers.
  • Construction: 10,900 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Agriculture, Construction, which together account for 86.6% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 26,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 22,200 workers.
  • Educational services: 12,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 56.1% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,700 workers (decreased by 16.83%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 27.87%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 7.19%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 20%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 10.1%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 10.53%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 6,400 workers (increased by 86.49%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 6,200 workers (decreased by 62.63%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 6,000 workers (increased by 29.56%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 3,100 workers (decreased by 17.92%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,800 workers (decreased by 11.2%).

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

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

February, 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 40,880 in February 2026, it contracted by 130 jobs from January and grew by 600 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 59.1%. It fell by 0.2 percentage points from January and rose by 0.4 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate is 5.5%. It fell by 0.3 percentage points month-over-month, and declined by 1.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in February 2026 was 40,880, showing a subtle decrease of 130 from the previous month. Relative to February last year, employment levels gained 600, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.1% in February 2026. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from January (59.3%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.4 percentage points from 58.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.5% in February 2026, down 0.3 percentage points from January. Compared to February last year (6.6%), the rate has decreased by 1.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.27) 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 (-0.37) 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 0.06 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

February, 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 February 2026 was 40,880, showing a subtle decrease of 130 from the previous month. Relative to February last year, employment levels gained 600, showing strength.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.1% in February 2026. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from January (59.3%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.4 percentage points from 58.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.5% in February 2026, down 0.3 percentage points from January. Compared to February last year (6.6%), the rate has decreased by 1.1 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.37) 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 April, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.06 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 April, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 3,100 jobs from last month and decreased by 4,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,700 jobs from last month and increased by 2,000 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 300 people from the previous month and increased by 100 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 1,400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 1,400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,600 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing: 14,200 workers.
  • Agriculture: 13,800 workers.
  • Construction: 10,900 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Agriculture, Construction, which together account for 86.6% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 26,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 22,200 workers.
  • Educational services: 12,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 56.1% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,700 workers (decreased by 16.83%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 27.87%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 7.19%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 20%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 10.1%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 10.53%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 6,400 workers (increased by 86.49%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 6,200 workers (decreased by 62.63%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 6,000 workers (increased by 29.56%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 3,100 workers (decreased by 17.92%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,800 workers (decreased by 11.2%).

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 April, 2026
Economic region

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Medicine Hat ranks 37th with an employment rate of 59.1%. The provincial range is 47.5% to 70.1%, with half of areas between 57.6% and 62.3% (median: 59.5%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Medicine Hat ranks 1st with an unemployment rate of 5.5%. The provincial range is 5.5% to 11.0%, with half of areas between 6.0% and 6.8% (median: 6.3%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 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