Lethbridge, AB… Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL) and Canada’s Premier Food Corridor (CPFC) have released a new Manufacturing Economic Impact Study examining the contribution of manufacturing and food and beverage processing within the Lethbridge Census Metropolitan Area.
The study confirms that manufacturing remains a key driver of employment, export activity, and provincial economic output in the region.
“Manufacturing is a huge economic driver in Lethbridge and Southern Alberta, and this study helps quantify the impact the sector has in our region,” says Mike Prociw, Workforce Program Manager, Economic Development Lethbridge. “It also substantiates the notion that uncertainty or policy changes that threaten the viability of this sector could have significant local ramifications given the multiplier impacts generated by this industry.”
Key Findings from the study include:
- 8,200 people are employed in manufacturing locally, representing 12.7% of total regional employment.
- The sector supports approximately 17,218 jobs across the Lethbridge area, or about one quarter of all local employment, when supply chain impacts are included.
- Food manufacturing employs 4,100 people, accounting for nearly 20% of Alberta’s food-processing workforce.
- Manufacturing contributes an estimated $4.2 billion to Alberta’s gross domestic product, including nearly $3 billion generated by food manufacturing.
- More than 70% of Lethbridge’s exports are generated by manufacturing, totaling approximately $1.6 billion annually.
- Manufacturing exports have grown by 163% since 2016, the highest growth rate among Alberta’s major cities.
- Economic activity associated with manufacturing generates over $1.1 billion in tax revenues across federal, provincial, and municipal governments.
“Working with other manufacturers in the area through the Lethbridge Manufacturing Association, allows companies to address industry needs and identify opportunities that can help ensure the sustained prosperity of manufacturing in the Lethbridge area,” says Ben Authier of Corteva, a member of the Lethbridge Manufacturing Association. “The data uncovered in this study underscores the importance of manufacturing to the local economy and how companies can be well-positioned for success.”
While manufacturing represents a relatively small share of total businesses in the region, it accounts for a disproportionate share of major employers and plays a stabilizing role in the local economy. The study also identifies opportunities to further strengthen applied research, and commercialization supports manufacturers and food processors to enhance long-term competitiveness and innovation capacity.
Overall, the findings reinforce manufacturing’s ongoing importance to the Lethbridge region and its contribution to Alberta’s broader value chains. For more information, the complete study can be found on the Choose Lethbridge website, in the Publications section.
Source: Derek Murray Consulting Associates. Analysis of the Economic Impact of the Manufacturing Sector and Food and Beverage Production Subsector in the Lethbridge Region. December 2025. Analysis is based on 2016–2024 data and excludes the self-employed population.
For more information please contact:
Mark Neskar
Director, Marketing & Communications
Economic Development Lethbridge
mark@chooselethbridge.ca
403-393-6376
