Both Canada and Alberta, along with other provinces and territories, have been implementing labour force strategies to deal with current labour shortages and prepare for the future.

The governments of Canada and Alberta recently signed the new Canada-Alberta Labour Marker Agreement, effective immediately, which is intended to help Alberta workers improve their skills in order to contribute their full potential to the workforce.

Under this new agreement, the Government of Canada will invest close to $316 million in Alberta’s labour market over the next six years.

The new investments focus on supporting skills development for unemployed Alberta residents who are not eligible for training assistance under the Employment Insurance program. It will help individuals who have typically encountered more barriers to entry and mobility in the workforce and those under-represented such as Aboriginal people, immigrants, persons with disabilities, and women.

$28.2 million will go towards employment and training programs to expand training opportunities and enhance career information and counseling services. It will also focus on helping those in low-skilled jobs in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and health care, to move to better jobs.

$10.2 million has been allocated to immigration programs to help newcomers integrate into the workforce.