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Alberta's Recovery Plan

Alberta at Work

Taking action to help Albertans find jobs, build skills and advance their careers.

Overview

Through Budget 2022, we are investing more than $600 million over 3 years in Alberta at Work - a collection of strategic investments to help Albertans develop new skills and grow their careers.

Alberta at Work strengthens Alberta’s K to 12 education system, supports access to training and career development opportunities, helps out-of-work Albertans re-enter the workforce and increases awareness of the benefits of living, working and investing in Alberta.

How we got here

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges for Alberta’s labour market, including labour shortages in key sectors, youth unemployment, barriers to entry for under-represented groups and increased long-term unemployment.

The Alberta at Work initiative focuses on solving these challenges while building on Alberta’s strengths to ensure Albertans have access to meaningful support throughout their careers.

Key investments

Through the Alberta at Work initiative, we are strategically investing in Alberta's strengths, such as our world-class K to 12 education system, highly-ranked universities and colleges and other career, employment and income support services.

These key investments will ensure that Albertans have access to meaningful support throughout their careers.

  • Building foundations

    The path to a rewarding career begins early in life with a strong foundation. Alberta’s K to 12 education system supports Albertans to become lifelong learners inspired to pursue their interests and contribute to their future and the economy.

    Actions we're taking

    • Expanding charter schools and the collegiate model with particular attention on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the trades.
      • Investing $25 million in operating expense and $47 million in capital investment over the next 3 years to integrate collegiate programs within the K to 12 system and provide clear pathways for students into post-secondary education and high-demand careers.
    • Investing $15 million over 3 years to improve the labour market information available to students, employees and employers, this includes regularly reviewing and updating labour market programs to meet the needs of today and adapt to the needs of tomorrow.

  • Developing skills

    Targeted supports through Alberta's adult learning system can help individuals find training opportunities and pursue rewarding careers.

    Actions we're taking

    • Transforming Alberta’s adult learning system through the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs initiative.
    • Investing $264 million for targeted supports:
      • $171 million for targeted enrolment expansion in the areas of technology, agriculture, financial services and aviation
      • $59 million to expand the veterinary school at the University of Calgary to address a critical emerging shortage of large animal veterinarians
      • $30 million for apprenticeship expansion programs
      • $5 million to increase training opportunities for Indigenous people
    • Investing $30 million over 3 years mostly for Commercial Driver Grants to address a severe shortage of skilled drivers in Alberta.

     

  • Seeking employment

    Key investments in job-training will help Albertans if they find themselves out-of-work and in need of support.

    Actions we're taking

    • Investing an additional $23 million over 3 years in the Canada-Alberta Job Grant. This program helps employers hire Alberta workers, and helps businesses develop the skills they need to grow and diversify.
    • Investing an additional $41 million over 3 years in Alberta’s Training for Work programs, which are available to service providers working with Albertans who are unemployed or marginally employed.
    • Delivering $30 million to increase access to Foundational Work Programs to provide many of the basic skills that are required to become employed, including training in literacy and numeracy, soft skills to build foundational competencies and English as a second language courses.
    • Investing $6 million over 3 years to expand work integrated learning programs that provide students with paid experiential learning opportunities, helping establish permanent employment connections.

  • Advancing your career

    Albertans looking to advance their careers can take advantage of opportunities to update or gain new skills.

    Actions we're taking

    • Investing $23 million to support career advancement:
      • $15 million in grants and bursaries for low-income students studying in qualified high-demand programs.
      • $8 million to expand reskilling and upskilling opportunities through new micro-credential based course offerings.

  • Workforce and investment attraction

    Alberta at Work will help address demographic challenges, such as slower population growth and aging workforces, by investing to bring Albertans into the labour market and attract people to our province.

    Actions we're taking

    • Investing $88 million over 3 years to enhance 2 aspects of Alberta’s Investment and Growth Strategy:
      • $73 million over 3 years for the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy to help develop areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum science.
      • $15 million for the creation of a new rural investment attraction stream of the Investment and Growth Fund.
    • Providing $15 million over 3 years to create national and international awareness of the benefits of living, working and investing in Alberta.
  • Alberta Recovery Plan
    Alberta's Recovery Plan

    Diversifying today, more jobs tomorrow.

    Learn more