This release was issued under a previous government.

Alberta added 21,200 jobs in September - 69,100 since January. The unemployment rate is now 4.4 per cent, which is as close to full employment as we can get, and well below the national average.

Upward trends suggest the labour market is likely to get even tighter – especially in specific industries. Experts like the Conference Board of Canada, TD and RBC all agree that Alberta will be Canada’s economic growth leader again this year.

“Alberta looks forward to working with the federal government on immigration and labour force strategies that respond to market demands, and ensure we have the workers we need to drive our economy. Alberta will need access to skilled and unskilled labour to meet the needs of our economy, including the recruitment of Canadians from other provinces, temporary foreign workers and permanent immigrants.”

Jim Prentice, Premier

Premier Prentice noted that Federal Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney and Alberta Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour Minister Ric McIver met earlier this week and have begun the process of trying to find solutions including:

  • the provincial nomination program,
  • existing and new federal immigration programs,
  • industry participation and
  • temporary foreign workers

Premier Prentice emphasized the intention of the Government of Alberta to work together with Alberta employers and the Government of Canada to integrate labour force strategies in order to find solutions to both the interim and long-term challenges.

In addition to solutions involving temporary foreign workers, the Premier looks forward to working with the federal government to eliminate barriers and recruit Canadians from other provinces to find work and become successful citizens of Alberta.