Centre will empower employers, jobseekers 'with critical information they need to navigate our dynamic labour market'
Alberta is investing more than $1 million dollars to help employers and prospective workers find success in the changing labour market.
The provincial government is setting aside $1.2 million through three years for the new Alberta Centre for Labour Market Research, which will provide job insights and recommendations to stakeholders.
At the centre, researchers will explore critical policy issues that directly affect Albertans, says the government. Undergraduate and graduate students will also be equipped with the knowledge and skills to better understand and address labour market challenges in the future.
The centre’s work will be crucial for understanding emerging labour market issues affecting Albertans and providing impartial research to guide policies that enhance Alberta's labour market resilience, according to the government.
“The Alberta Centre for Labour Market Research is a game-changer for Albertans – empowering students, job seekers and employers with critical information they need to navigate our dynamic labour market,” says Matt Jones, minister of jobs, economy and trade. “
According to Statistics Canada (StatsCan), payroll employment took a hit in June, dropping by about 47,000 positions.
Teaming up for labour market research in Alberta
The Alberta Centre for Labour Market Research will be operating out of the University of Alberta’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities. The centre will comprise 25 labour market researchers across five higher education institutions in Alberta:
- Athabasca University
- Mount Royal University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Lethbridge.
The centre will be funded by the Alberta government with an annual grant of almost $400,000 from 2024 to 2026.
It is being led by Joseph Marchand, a professor of economics at the University of Alberta, co-director of the Institute of Public Economics and director of WELM-Arts, a research and creative collaboration in the area of Work, Employment and Labour Markets within the Faculty of Arts.
"Thanks to the foresight and generosity of Alberta’s government, the Alberta Centre for Labour Market Research will be able to provide Albertans with high-quality information on key labour trends and issues as they emerge. This helps every Albertan to make better decisions, whether it be a new grad looking for a job, a CEO making long-term business decisions or policymakers looking to invest in the future and in our province,” says Marchand, director of the centre.
“Perhaps most importantly, we want to hear about the labour market from Albertans: What are the challenges they face? What are their research questions? The more input we get from Albertans and others that care about Alberta, the better the outcomes."
The centre is part of the Alberta at Work initiative, which is aimed at enhancing the labour market information available to Albertans. The initiative is a multi-year provincial investment totalling over $700 million towards helping Albertans develop new skills and grow their careers.
Currently, the federal government is seeking public feedback as it works to develop a modern 21st century workforce.
