Lethbridge CMA Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 4,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 400 people from the previous month and decreased by 200 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 900 jobs from last month and increased by 1,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and decreased by 4,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 400 people from the previous month and decreased by 200 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 4.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate remained unchanged from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 5 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 800 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,700 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 6,600 workers.
  • Construction : 6,100 workers.
  • Agriculture : 3,500 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance : 12,500 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 10,600 workers.
  • Educational services : 6,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 22.86 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 9.59 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 10.91 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 2.75 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 9.68 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 5.26 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 16.67 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 12 %).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Construction : Change of 1,900 workers ( decreased by 23.75 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 50 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,700 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 37.93 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 19.64 %).

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

Monthly Regional Workforce Trends

Updated monthly, these workforce trends focus on changes in total employment, employment by industry, and employment unemployment rates at the Economic Region level.

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Census metropolitan area

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 900 jobs from last month and increased by 1,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and decreased by 4,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 400 people from the previous month and decreased by 200 people compared to last year.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 2025
Census metropolitan area

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 4.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate remained unchanged from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 5 percentage points year-over-year.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 2025
Census metropolitan area

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 800 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,700 jobs .

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 2025
Census metropolitan area

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 6,600 workers.
  • Construction : 6,100 workers.
  • Agriculture : 3,500 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance : 12,500 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 10,600 workers.
  • Educational services : 6,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 2025
Census metropolitan area

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by Inf %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 22.86 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 9.59 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 10.91 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 2.75 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 9.68 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 5.26 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 16.67 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 12 %).

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 2025
Census metropolitan area

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Construction : Change of 1,900 workers ( decreased by 23.75 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 50 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,700 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 37.93 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 19.64 %).

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 2025
Census metropolitan area

Conclusion

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

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey June, 2025

Lethbridge Companies Employing 100 or More People

Number of Major Employers

Major Employers Total Staff

Total Staff by Business Activity

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Data source: Economic Development Lethbridge, Winter 2022.
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Data source: City of Lethbridge

Notes

  • Includes all employees serving in a paid capacity (full-time, part-time, and casual) and working in the Lethbridge Census Metropolitan Area (CMA).
  • We are aware that other local businesses have over 100 employees but are only sharing the information of those who participated in our survey and are comfortable sharing their information.

Sources

  • Economic Development Lethbridge, Winter 2022.

University of Lethbridge Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates

Total Graduates

Recent Graduates

University of Lethbridge Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates

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Notes

    Sources

    • University of Lethbridge, Department of Institutional Analysis, August 2021

    Lethbridge College Program Band Completions

    Total Number of College Graduates

    Main Program by Number of Graduates

    Lethbridge College Program Band Completions

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    Data source: Lethbridge College, Institutional Planning & Reporting, September 2022

    Notes

      Sources

      • Lethbridge College, Institutional Planning & Reporting, September 2022