Government announces more opportunities to grow Alberta’s workforce

“The Alberta Jobs Now program is helping more than 14,000 Albertans get back to work and now we’re improving it so even more people can benefit. Alberta’s Recovery Plan continues to breathe new life into our economy and provide new opportunities for all Albertans,” said Premier Jason Kenney this week.

The program is open to new Alberta businesses and organizations, including those operating for less than a year. It also supports the hiring of workers into part-time positions, making it more inclusive and accessible for all Albertans.

While the program remains focused on supporting the hiring of unemployed Albertans, this will no longer be a requirement for new hires. Officials say the government is making it easier for employers to hire the most qualified candidates for available positions.

Employers can now also apply for funding to help fill 10 positions that must be filled within 90 days after approval of their application to the program, speeding up the hiring process and allowing more businesses to participate in the program.

“Alberta’s government is making sure the success of the first application intake period continues. We listened to feedback from Alberta employers to make the program more effective and inclusive to help as many hard-working Albertans get back to work as possible,” added Tyler Shandro, Minister of Labour and Immigration.

“With only 43 per cent of Alberta small businesses at normal staffing levels, more support is needed to help with hiring and economic recovery. These changes to the Jobs Now program reflect the challenges small businesses are facing and will allow more small businesses to use the program as they begin to return to normal staffing levels,” noted Annie Dormuth, Alberta provincial affairs director, Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

“After a very well-received first intake, it’s positive to see the Alberta Jobs Now program returning for a second application period,” stated Ken Kobly, president and CEO, Alberta Chamber of Commerce. “The changes to this program will help more job creators access these much-needed funds. In particular, we support the move to expand eligibility to businesses and organizations that have been operating for less than a year – addressing key feedback from our membership.”

Applications to the Alberta Jobs Now program will be accepted starting Nov. 10, and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are allocated for this intake. A third application intake period will open in 2022.

NDP Critic for Labour Christina Gray issued the following statement in response to the governments Alberta Jobs Now announcement:

“Today, after massive delays, the UCP rolled out the second application intake of their Alberta Jobs Now program, one that Albertans have been waiting for. This money for the training of new employees could have been in the hands of employees and in our economy during the first waves of the pandemic, but the UCP waited over a year to get a single dime out the door.

“The first intake of this program turned new businesses away if they had not been operating for one year. While I’m encouraged to see Jason Kenney has heeded our advice to include new businesses in this second tranche, if the UCP had done this correctly from the beginning, more businesses may have opened their doors sooner knowing they had access to these supports.

“Last month alone, we lost 9,000 jobs while BC and Ontario gained jobs. Alberta needs real leadership to get our economy back on track and recover from COVID-19. Instead the UCP continues to act last and act least.”

For detailed information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit alberta.ca/jobsnow.

by rdnewsNOW Staff

Government announces more opportunities to grow Alberta’s workforce

What's Trending