One of Canada’s biggest challenges in the job market is in the trades industry.
A recent study by Statistics Canada (StatsCan) shows that the national job market is under pressure due to many baby boomers (born between 1955 and 1965) retiring.
As a result, Canada’s workforce participation rate has dropped to its lowest point in 20 years, standing at 65% in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
To address this, both the federal and provincial governments are actively seeking skilled workers to strengthen the workforce in this sector.
While Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working to address these urgent shortages, Alberta has introduced financial incentives to attract skilled workers to the province.
What is Alberta offering skilled trade workers who immigrate?
In April 2024, the Government of Alberta launched the Alberta is Calling program. This program offers a one-time refundable tax credit of $5,000 to up to 2,000 skilled tradespeople who qualify.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years or older when applying
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Move to Alberta between May 1 and December 31, 2024
- Be a tax resident of Alberta as of December 31, 2024
- Have lived in Alberta for at least 12 consecutive months when applying
For more details and the full eligibility criteria, visit the Government of Alberta’s website.
Regarding Alberta’s trades industry
Alberta’s trades industry has faced a significant labor shortage for a long time, making trade careers some of the most in-demand jobs in the province.
Currently, nine different trades are listed as high-demand occupations by the Government of Alberta. Here they are, in no specific order, along with their National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 codes:
- Construction managers (NOC 70010)
- Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers (NOC 72410)
- Plumbers (NOC 72300)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NOC 21310)
- Civil Engineers (NOC 21300)
- Engineering Managers (NOC 20010)
- Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers (NOC 74203)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 22310)
- Electrical Mechanics (NOC 72422)
For those interested in immigrating to Canada and working in Alberta’s trades industry, the provincial government’s trades website offers valuable information, including:
- Details on Apprentice Services in Alberta
- Steps to become a certified tradesperson in Alberta
- A list of designated trades across the province
Job vacancies in Alberta
As of May 2024, StatsCan data shows that Alberta has a large number of job vacancies, ranking third among Canadian provinces, after Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Here are the job vacancies by province:
- Ontario: 204,180
- Quebec: 130,735
- British Columbia: 102,720
- Alberta: 76,500
This suggests that newcomers to Alberta, whether in the trades industry or other fields, may have better job opportunities compared to other provinces in Canada.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
