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$1.5 million program coming to Alberta t

$1.5 million program coming to Alberta to help unemployed women

Apr 11, 2023 | 1:23 PM

By: Christian Oldale

A new program aimed at helping unemployed women transform their careers is coming to Alberta this spring.

Higher Learning will help unemployed female professionals in Alberta get back to meaningful employment.

The $1.5 million program, funded in full by the provincial government’s Workforce Strategies grant program will take 450 participants over 18 months starting in May 2023.

Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development Brian Jean said, “The Workforce Strategies grants support projects that help Alberta workers develop the necessary skills to meet workforce needs and build the capacity of industry, employers and regions to attract, develop and retain workers,” said Jean.

He continues, “Through this program, Alberta’s government is partnering with Higher Landing to create more opportunities for women to gain job-ready skills that employers need to grow in Alberta’s diversifying economy.”

Every participant of the program will have the chance to step into Higher Landing’s Grizzly Den program, modeled after CBC’s Dragon’s Den. The participants will pitch themselves to a panel of business leaders and receive feedback, job leads and possibly job offers.

Those interested can learn more about and apply to the program on Higher Learning’s website.

Alberta currently has one of Canada’s highest rates of long-term unemployment at 21.9 per cent.