SHORTAGE OF LABOUR IN ALBERTA

A shortage of labour was cited by a roundtable of energy companies in Alberta as their key business challenge. Easing immigration rules has been put forward as a possible partial solution. Alberta having the highest employment growth in Canada, and the fact that oilsands production (based in Alberta) is expected to climb from 1.6 million barrels a day to 3 million in 2020, point to growth in both the economy and population of Alberta.

According to an article in the Postmedia news, “more than 30 percent of the [oil and gas] industry’s core workforce is expected to retire within the decade as the first baby boomer’s turned 65 in 2011.” These workers all have to be replaced.

There are a variety of immigration and temporary status programs available in Alberta with the goal of helping to alleviate these labour shortages. These include:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW):The list of 29 qualifying occupations, has several skilled and semi-skilled occupations relevant to the energy industry.

• The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP):Fast-track options for engineers, as well as criteria for semi-skilled workers such as truck drivers and those in the hospitality industry that can complement the energy industry.

• Temporary Work Permit Options:That can eventually lead to permanent residency.