It’s by no means unique to Edmonton, but Edmonton happens to be a dynamic and good example of notorious and misguided business cliches. The differences between office business and manufacturing business are where it shows the most. Due mostly to generational stereotypes, office business triggers images of offices, C-suites, sleek elevators, meeting rooms and spaces with rows of workstations, laptops and screens. For many reasons, manufacturing business trigger images of huge machines, widgets, valves, pumps, gauges, noise and skilled technicians with hard hats and safety glasses.
The clichés portray manufacturing as physically demanding and dirty, while office work is more comfortable and less physical. In fact, the perceptions are often inaccurate and the stereotypes continue to be flipped.
Many contemporary manufacturing jobs are now high-tech, state of the art and require skilled professionals who oversee automated processes. Many contemporary office jobs require high-pressure performance and can be just as physically demanding in terms of mental exertion and stress. Despite the faulty misunderstandings and assumptions, manufacturing is a critical aspect of business, and in the Edmonton region, undergoing a dramatic transformation.
“Edmonton is one of the most strategically important manufacturing regions in the country,” says Doug Griffiths, Edmonton Chamber’s CEO, “and it’s time more people recognized that! We don’t just build things here, we solve problems. Our manufacturers support the energy sector, feed supply chains across the continent and innovate faster than most urban centres twice our size. This region has the people, the expertise and the grit to punch well above its weight.”
Business stats show that while Alberta’s manufacturing sector may not be the largest part of the province’s economy, it does play a significant role, contributing $23.4 billion to the GDP and providing jobs to 1 in 20 workers. As of 2023, Edmonton stands out as Alberta’s largest manufacturing region with a workforce of 51,900.
Key subsectors include food manufacturing, fabricated metal manufacturing, machinery and wood products. The sector is also actively seeking innovation and sustainability with a focus on clean technology and reducing emissions.
“Edmonton is a critical manufacturing hub, not only for Alberta but for Western Canada as a whole,” says Sarah Rimbey, director of Western Policy at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME). “It is home to a dense concentration of industrial suppliers, fabrication shops and advanced manufacturers, especially those supporting the energy, construction and transportation sectors.”
While Edmonton business often credits location-location for much of the region’s dynamics, Rimbey underscores the importance of Edmonton’s location in the oil and gas hub for manufacturing. “It is foundational. Edmonton manufacturers supply the full oil and gas value chain, from field equipment and fabrication to pipeline components and facility construction.
“The region’s proximity to the Industrial Heartland and Fort McMurray creates constant demand for specialized products and services. It also fosters innovation in emissions reduction, waste heat recovery and hydrogen development, often directly within manufacturing operations.”
She adds that the Edmonton region acts as a backbone for many upstream and downstream operations tied to Alberta’s natural resources and is also one of the fastest-growing metro areas in Canada. That manufacturing importance creates both market opportunity and infrastructure pressure.
Rimbey is enthusiastic about Edmonton’s role and relevance in the west’s manufacturing sector and the emerging diversity of Edmonton manufacturing. She itemizes some of the city’s strengths. Like metal fabrication and machinery, much of is it tied to oil and gas infrastructure and maintenance. Chemicals and petrochemicals, specifically in Fort Saskatchewan (25 kilometres northeast of Edmonton) benefit from proximity to Alberta’s refining sector. Other offerings are construction products like precast concrete, steel structures and modular units. Let’s not overlook food and beverage processing, supported by regional agriculture and emerging tech manufacturing, especially in areas like clean technologies and hydrogen infrastructure.
Griffiths is gung-ho about manufacturing being an Edmonton area game changer.
“We’re not just near the action, we are the action. Edmonton manufacturers don’t just supply Alberta’s energy sector, they enable it. With the push for emissions reductions and new tech in energy production, our manufacturers are already leading the way in building the next generation of infrastructure.”
With reams of stats and facts, he emphasizes “Technology and automation are not only key factors for manufacturing, but they are also make-or-break aspects. In an economy where labour is tight and margins are thin; technology is what keeps businesses ahead of the curve. Edmonton companies are investing in smart systems, robotics and AI. “Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s necessary to stay competitive on a global stage.”
Rimbey underscores the role of technology and automation.
“Given the tight labour market, companies are accelerating adoption of robotics, ERP systems and AI-driven quality control. Automation is not just about efficiency. It is increasingly essential for workforce safety, supply chain visibility and attracting younger talent.”
While Edmonton’s manufacturing sector is resilient, adapts, changes with the times and forges forward, the recent dual strain of supply chain disruptions and chronic labour shortages has squeezed manufacturing margins and delayed some projects.
“Many manufacturers have had to over-order inventory, shift to domestic sourcing or limit production capacity due to workforce gaps,” she notes. “In some cases, companies have declined contracts they simply could not fulfill due to staffing constraints. These issues have also accelerated reshoring conversations and renewed interest in Made-in-Canada supply chains.
“Edmonton businesses have adapted faster than most, leaned into local supply chains, cross-trained teams and found new ways to move product. If anything, the challenges exposed just how capable our manufacturers really are when it comes to solving problems and staying productive under pressure.”
As the Edmonton manufacturing transformation continues to embrace new technologies, it is also dealing with the realities of relatively new industry speedbumps and challenges; global, domestic and provincial economic flux; a skilled labour crunch and volatile supply chain issues. Then there is the latest broadside – the uncertainty of tariff worries and trade wars.
Edmonton manufacturers are subtly but proactively looking to east/west markets vs. north/south.
Griffiths notes, “Particularly tariff uncertainty, caused by the U.S. trade policy, continues to create risk for manufacturers who rely on cross-border supply chains. With ‘buy America’ provisions tightening and potential for new tariffs on strategic goods, many Edmonton firms are diversifying shipping routes and customers. The east-west corridor is seeing increased use, especially through Prince Rupert and Vancouver, to access Asian and European markets more directly and avoid U.S. bottlenecks. That’s not a bad thing. It forces us to diversify, build new partnerships and strengthen domestic logistics. The good news? Edmonton is perfectly positioned to be a national manufacturing anchor that is not dependent on just one export route or market.”
Griffiths is upbeat about Edmonton manufacturing, reflecting on the supply chain and pandemic hindsight of just five years ago.
“Then, we were talking about recovery. Today, we are talking about reinvention! Manufacturing in this city has become smarter, leaner and more adaptive. Automation, digitization and diversification are not just buzzwords here, they have become the backbone of modern manufacturing in Edmonton.”
