Industry and sector provincewide projects
Alberta Food Processors Association - Digital Workforce Intelligence and Trade Resilience Hub
This project aims to strengthen workforce stability across Alberta’s food and beverage sector by providing accessible workforce intelligence and practical employer tools as Alberta food processors face the impacts of tariffs. The project’s central feature will include the Digital Workforce Intelligence and Trade Resilience Hub. Insights gathered through data collection and employer interviews will also inform a Digital Toolkit designed to help companies improve job retention, address skills gaps, and adapt to workforce disruptions driven by tariffs and automation. To ensure broad adoption and impact, the project will deliver in-person capacity-building sessions for users of both the Hub and the Digital Toolkit.
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum - Understanding Employer and Tradespeople's Perspectives Amid Disruption and Uncertainty in the Alberta Skilled Trades Labour Market
This project proposes a two-year initiative to examine the effects of global trade disruptions, geopolitical instability, and labour mobility barriers on Alberta’s skilled trades workforce. Through a province-wide survey of 1,000 employers and tradespeople across 50 trades, the project will gather real-time data on hiring intentions, employment trends and workforce mobility challenges. Findings will inform the development of actionable, practical supports and outreach activities aimed at reducing unemployment, enhancing workforce mobility and addressing skills shortages which will strengthen Alberta’s skilled trades sector during a period of economic uncertainty.
Careers in Energy- Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Alberta’s Energy Workforce
This project will examine the impacts of United States tariffs on Alberta’s energy employers using employer-driven evidence (including surveys and roundtables). The project will identify at-risk roles, skills, and regions and deliver recommendations for targeted training and reskilling to help prevent layoffs and sustain operations.
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium - Impacts of Tariffs on Alberta Manufacturing Workforce
This project aims to deliver Alberta’s first manufacturing workforce analysis focused on how tariffs are affecting employers across manufacturing. It will use a provincial employer survey, qualitative interviews and focus groups to assess impacts on workforce needs. The project will also take on a deeper analysis into the top sub-sectors experiencing tariff impacts including metal manufacturing, wood and forestry products, and plastics and polymer manufacturing.
Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) - Understanding and addressing the Impact of Tariffs on Alberta’s Trucking Workforce
This project will conduct research to better understand the impacts of the trade dispute and develop resources to support the workforce planning needs of Alberta trucking employers. Research will be leveraged to develop a suite of human resources (HR) products, including online HR guides, practical downloadable tools, and informational e-modules on topics such as succession planning, employee retention during mergers and acquisitions and managing economic disruptions.
Regional projects
Community Futures Entre-Corp - Southeast Alberta Manufacturing Workforce & Trade Competitiveness Initiative
This project will convene manufacturers across Southeast Alberta to identify shared workforce shortages, skills gaps, tariff impacts and other trade-related operational challenges. The project will generate labour market intelligence, including a regional workforce priorities report, and will deliver targeted workshops and individualized employer advisory sessions to support labour market adjustment, productivity improvements and compliance with trade requirements such as Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
Cypress County - Cypress County Tariff Response & Agrifood Workforce Strategy
This project will conduct targeted labour market research, tariff impact analysis and workforce planning to support Cypress County’s agricultural sector in adapting to current economic pressures. The project will generate labour market intelligence, including skills mapping and workforce adjustment strategies to prepare the region for emerging agri-food processing opportunities. Additionally, it will assist with developing a coordinated response to workforce needs arising from tariff-related market shifts.
Lethbridge Economic Development Initiative Society - Strengthening the Resiliency & Adaptability of the Manufacturing Workforce in Southern Alberta
This project will conduct targeted labour market research, sector analysis, workforce planning, and create tools to help Southern Alberta’s manufacturing employers adapt to current labour shortages and market instability. Additionally, it will help equip the region for future opportunities in automation, robotics and defence manufacturing.
Northwestern Polytechnic - Strengthening SME Workforce Resilience and Operational Productivity in a Changing Trade Landscape
This project will conduct labour market research to understand how changing trade and tariff conditions affect businesses in the Grande Prairie region. The findings and insights will be used to produce research-informed regional models that can be scaled across other trade-exposed communities in Alberta.
Northern Sunrise County - Peace Region Labour Planning and Readiness
This project will analyze impacts of tariff volatility in Peace Region’s key sectors including forestry, agriculture, transportation, and related supply chains. The project will help identify present-day labour shortages, recruitment barriers, and skills gaps. Additionally, the project will focus on industries that are either foundational or anticipated to experience increased demand due to large scale industrial development. These industries will rely on the Peace Region’s current and near-future labour market and will be negatively impacted if tariff volatility leads skilled workers to leave or not move to the region.
Town of Olds - Supply Chain Competitiveness Development Strategy: Dealing with tariff exposure and supply chain vulnerabilities
This project will assess tariff exposure and supply chain vulnerabilities across priority impacted industries including agriculture, manufacturing, and truck transport. The project will identify occupations at risk from tariff exposure and emerging roles linked to import replacement and value chain shifts; develop a transferable skills matrix and transition pathways for tariff-impacted occupations; align findings with post-secondary partners to outline training readiness and micro-credential opportunities; produce sector-based workforce adjustment scenarios and provide regional response strategies for tariff-exposed industries and occupations.