Lethbridge CMA Workforce Insights

January, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 4,600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 6,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 100 people from the previous month and increased by 1,800 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 400 jobs from last month and decreased by 4,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 100 jobs from last month and increased by 6,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 100 people from the previous month and increased by 1,800 people compared to last year.

Scroll down to explore the data

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.4 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 500 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 1,500 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 7,000 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 5,100 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,200 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 15,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 8,300 workers.
  • Educational services: 6,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 52.9% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 2,400 workers (increased by 18.32%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 13.58%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 13.33%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 18.75%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 13.16%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 5,100 workers (increased by 49.04%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 5,000 workers (decreased by 49.5%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 4,200 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 21.7%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 100%).

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, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Monthly Regional Workforce Trends

January, 2026

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 400 jobs from last month and decreased by 4,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 100 jobs from last month and increased by 6,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 100 people from the previous month and increased by 1,800 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey January, 2026
Census metropolitan area

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.4 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey January, 2026
Census metropolitan area

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 500 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 1,500 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey January, 2026
Census metropolitan area

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 7,000 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 5,100 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,200 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 15,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 8,300 workers.
  • Educational services: 6,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 52.9% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey January, 2026
Census metropolitan area

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 2,400 workers (increased by 18.32%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 13.58%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 13.33%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 18.75%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 13.16%).

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey January, 2026
Census metropolitan area

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 5,100 workers (increased by 49.04%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 5,000 workers (decreased by 49.5%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 4,200 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 21.7%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 100%).

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 January, 2026
Census metropolitan area

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, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

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

Lethbridge Companies Employing 100 or More People

Number of Major Employers

Major Employers Total Staff

Total Staff by Business Activity

Data source: Economic Development Lethbridge, Winter 2022.
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

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

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

    Notes

      Sources

      • Lethbridge College, Institutional Planning & Reporting, September 2022

      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