Issue
Alberta is a prosperous province, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and a skilled and energetic workforce. At the same time, Albertans - like many Canadians - are struggling with transitions between learning and work, which is resulting in social and economic implications. If Alberta is to remain competitive with the rest of Canada, it must adapt to and address the coming labour market disruptions.
Background
Skills gaps are damaging the Canadian Economy. According to the Survey of Employers on Workers’ Skills, 56% of Canadian businesses reported having employees who were not fully proficient to be able to perform their job at the required level.
While Alberta’s unemployment rate has recovered from 2020 numbers, meeting the demand for skilled workers in the province is essential for ensuring long-term prosperity. Despite Alberta’s decreasing unemployment rate, as of December 2022 labour force participation was still below pre-Covid levels and there were 97,595 (5.1 %) vacant jobs in Alberta, almost double the same number in 2019.
Recommendations
That the Government of Alberta:
- 1. Through incentives and initiatives, encourage employers to invest more and become more involved in providing training opportunities to their current staff;
- Promote increased and diversified enrollment in post-secondary tech education programs in Alberta by providing subsidies for micro-credential training;
- Develop and invest in the essential skills of tomorrow, such as sustained support and investments in STEM education and trades training both within post-secondary and also through career transition programming;
- Position the delivery of career development services to ensure a seamless, coordinated system that provides effective transition within the high school system and the workplace, for all Albertans;
- Partner with interested stakeholders to create career development and market information resources and training for target audience; and
- Continue to track outcomes associated with these programs and initiatives in a transparent manner to allow for continual adjustments when necessary.
