Lethbridge-Medicine Hat Economic Region Workforce Insights

March, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 2,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 3,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,900 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 900 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 1,000 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 3,700 jobs from last month and increased by 2,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 900 jobs from last month and decreased by 600 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,000 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 2,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 2,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,300 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing: 15,300 workers.
  • Agriculture: 13,600 workers.
  • Construction: 9,900 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Agriculture, Construction, which together account for 88.6% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 27,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 22,700 workers.
  • Educational services: 13,200 workers.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 6.71%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 21.57%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 8.18%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 800 workers (increased by 15.09%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 11.86%).
  • Public administration: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 11.29%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 7,100 workers (decreased by 63.96%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 6,600 workers (increased by 94.29%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 5,800 workers (increased by 27.36%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 2,800 workers (increased by 41.79%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 2,200 workers (increased by 27.85%).

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: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

January, 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 41,010 in January 2026, it fell by 810 jobs from December and increased by 990 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 59.3%. It went down by 1.2 percentage points from December and grew by 1.0 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 5.8%. It declined by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and decreased by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in January 2026 was 41,010, showing a modest decrease of 810 from the previous month. From January last year, employment levels showed an uptick of 990, demonstrating resilience.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.3% in January 2026. This represents a decline of 1.2 percentage points from December (60.5%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.0 percentage points from 58.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.8% in January 2026, down 0.5 percentage points from December. Compared to January last year (6.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.4 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (0.16) 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 (-0.02) 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

January, 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 January 2026 was 41,010, showing a modest decrease of 810 from the previous month. From January last year, employment levels showed an uptick of 990, demonstrating resilience.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.3% in January 2026. This represents a decline of 1.2 percentage points from December (60.5%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.0 percentage points from 58.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.8% in January 2026, down 0.5 percentage points from December. Compared to January last year (6.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.4 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.02) 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 March, 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 March, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 3,700 jobs from last month and increased by 2,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 900 jobs from last month and decreased by 600 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,000 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 2,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 2,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,300 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing: 15,300 workers.
  • Agriculture: 13,600 workers.
  • Construction: 9,900 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Manufacturing, Agriculture, Construction, which together account for 88.6% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 27,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 22,700 workers.
  • Educational services: 13,200 workers.

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 6.71%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 21.57%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 8.18%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 800 workers (increased by 15.09%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 11.86%).
  • Public administration: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 11.29%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 7,100 workers (decreased by 63.96%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 6,600 workers (increased by 94.29%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 5,800 workers (increased by 27.36%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 2,800 workers (increased by 41.79%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 2,200 workers (increased by 27.85%).

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 March, 2026
Economic region

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. 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 March, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Medicine Hat ranks 38th with an employment rate of 59.3%. The provincial range is 48.2% to 70.4%, with half of areas between 57.8% and 62.7% (median: 59.9%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Medicine Hat ranks 15th with an unemployment rate of 5.8%. The provincial range is 4.5% to 11.6%, with half of areas between 5.8% and 7.1% (median: 6.2%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 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