Workforce contacts and employer resources

Industry contacts for employers

Industry Workforce Partnership Specialists work with provincial employer associations and large provincial employers to connect employers with tools and resources to help with recruiting, retaining and adapting their workforce.

To connect with an Industry Workforce Partnership Specialist:

Email: iwp@gov.ab.ca

Regional contacts for employers

Workforce Consultants are available across the province to provide employers with tools and resources to help them recruit, retain and strengthen their workforce. They can connect employers to:

grant funding opportunities
Alberta government programs and services
labour market information to help prepare and plan for the future

Find contact information for a Workforce Consultant (PDF, 159 KB) near you.

Employer liaison service

The Employer Liaison Service is a partnership between the Alberta government and the Government of Canada that helps connect Alberta employers with people in Alberta currently looking for work.

The Government of Canada will refer Alberta employers who are affected by the Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s Refusal to Process list to the Employer Liaison Service. Staff will conduct an employer needs assessment and facilitate additional support.

There are no fees for this service.

To contact Employer Liaison Service staff:

Phone: 1-877-427-6419 (toll-free in Alberta) – Press “2” for assistance.

Email: employerliaison@gov.ab.ca

The Employer Liaison Service will operate until April 2019. The Refusal to Process list may change during this time, depending on labour market information. Information about service delivery beyond 2 years is subject to review and will be available in 2019.

Laws, regulations and codes

Provincial laws, regulations and codes

Apprenticeship and Industry Act
- Provides a framework for the apprenticeship and industry training system, and regulates who can work in compulsory certification trades.
Employer Compliance
- Sets specific requirements to hire foreign workers to ensure their workers continue to uphold Temporary Foreign Worker Program conditions.
Employment Standards Code and Regulation
- Ensures worksites are fair and equal. There is a set of laws and regulations that most employers must abide by including hours of work, minimum wage, holiday pay and overtime hours.
Human Rights Act
- Ensures workplaces are free from discrimination in all aspects of the employment process, including recruitment, promotions, assignments and termination of employment.
Labour Relations Code
- Explains Alberta labour relations legislation, includes specific resources for certain sectors.
Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Code
- A list of laws governing health and safety in Alberta’s workplaces.
Personal Information Protection Act
- The laws surrounding the use and disclosure of personal information.
Tobacco Reduction Act
- A list of laws on tobacco use in and around the workplace.
Workers’ Compensation Act
- Describes the policies and procedures for employers dealing with workplace injuries.

Federal laws, regulations and codes

Occupations in the following areas fall under federal jurisdiction and are not covered by Alberta’s Employment Standards Code:

interprovincial trucking
federal Crown corporations
broadcasting
chartered banks
grain elevators
air transport
feed and feed mills
federal government employees
rail and water transport
interprovincial pipelines
work directly with or on behalf of First Nations

The following resources can provide more information on occupational health and safety standards for these federally covered areas:

Additional information

Government of Alberta programs

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their employee(s) for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.

The Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) provides funding to eligible Alberta employers to hire high school or post-secondary students into summer jobs from May to August.

Government of Canada programs

The Government of Canada has several wage subsides and assistance programs to help employers hire and retain employees.

Canada Summer Jobs helps employers create summer job opportunities for full time students between the ages of 15 and 30 years old.

Career Focus Green Jobs is a wage subsidy program for employment opportunities that have an environmental focus. A $13,500 maximum wage subsidy helps employers hire talented graduates.

Additional resources

Workforce information email subscription service

Subscribe to get with more information and resources to help with your workforce needs. Topics include:

planning your workforce
labour information and how to use it
recruiting new workers from various labour pools
recognizing foreign and domestic qualifications
changes and updates to employer programs and services
retaining your employees through development and training programs