The Alberta labour market is tight. Some sectors suggest it is a crunch and it’s getting worse. Ironically, the same cliché and stereotype – the perception of blue collar vs. tech and white collar – which originally caused the problem, may now be turning into the solution.
Edmonton’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and NorQuest College are just two examples of the new interest and the potential of skilled labour and trades.
According to a recent report from the Alberta Chamber of Commerce, a majority (60 per cent) of Alberta businesses continue to experience staffing shortages of a significant (24 per cent) or a moderate (36 per cent) nature. Two-thirds report a significant impact on production and/or sales opportunities.
Although Alberta businesses anticipate seeing an increase in the size of their workforce needs in 2024, they continue to report that hiring at all positions above entry level requires skills, apprenticeships and up-to-date qualifications, particularly in the construction sector.
A recent CIBC report showed that the job vacancy rate in construction is at a record high with around 800,000 vacancies and will soon cause delays and spikes in building costs. Developers, builders and contractors warn that crew sizes on construction jobs are dwindling and the skilled trades labour shortage is getting worse.
Aggravated by the ominous forecast that 21 per cent of the labour force is readying to retire by 2030, upgrading and apprenticeship training, like Alberta’s Trade Secrets Program, is essential and urgent. It underscores the need for people to discard the white collar vs. blue collar hang ups and consider careers in skilled trades.
“The traditional distinction between blue collar and office work is becoming increasingly blurred, especially as soft skills become more critical in trades professions,” says Kassie Burkholder, NAIT’s executive director of corporate & continuing education. “While there is renewed interest in trades courses, there is also a growing awareness that being successful in the trades today requires more than just technical proficiency. Skills like communication, project management and problem solving are becoming just as vital. They are reasons why NAIT is integrating more soft skills training into our trades courses, to ensure that students are well-rounded and prepared for the multifaceted challenges of modern work environments.”
She emphasizes that NAIT’s evolution in curriculum, programs and courses reflects the changing dynamics and expectations in both blue collar and white collar sectors.
NorQuest College is also noticing a surge in trades-related education.
“We are definitely seeing a growing interest across many of our programs, including our foundational programs and apprenticeship prep programs,” explains Jadine Sherman, NorQuest’s academic upgrading program manager.
“Apprenticeship prep is designed to assist learners in filling gaps as they proceed along an apprenticeship pathway. We regularly review and update our curriculum and strive to remain current with technology and best practices in teaching and learning. We have an active Program Advisory Committee to help ensure we remain workforce relevant and have representation from many sectors that employ tradespeople, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality and cosmetology.”
She adds that NorQuest is noticing more learners combining coursework and training across multiple disciplines, including business, entrepreneurship and trades-focused training.
The upsurge in the demand for skills training and apprenticeship options at NAIT is a strong reflection of contemporary worker wants, needs and expectations.
“Courses related to sectors facing a skilled labour shortage, such as construction trades, welding and electrical trades, continue to see robust enrolment numbers,” Burkholder says. “Additionally, there is a growing demand for technical training in emerging fields like AI education and Health care. On the other hand, courses in industries that are either oversaturated or undergoing technological automation have experienced a decrease in enrolment.”
NAIT is recognizing the shifting patterns and stays proactive and relevant in aligning its course offerings with current market demands and workforce needs. The province is also focused on the crunch and is investing to make an effective and time sensitive difference. This summer, the government announced $12.2 million in funding for an additional 2,000 apprenticeships in high-demand skilled trades, bringing the provincial investment in apprenticeship this year to $54 million. Since employers across the province are finding it difficult to hire people with the right combination of competencies needed to do jobs well, the Alberta apprenticeship and training emphasis is proving to be a positive.
This is particularly true for skilled jobs that do not require a diploma or degree. Even some graduates of post-secondary institutions require additional training and on-the-job learning before they can be certified as competent in their jobs. Trending indicates that apprenticeship-style education could be the answer for many employers, if they are willing to be part of the training ecosystem and help to build their own workforce.
The province recognized this when it brought in legislation and boosted support for apprenticeship-style learning in occupations beyond those in the designated skilled trades, like Alberta’s Trade Secrets Program, which dynamically helps people exploring a new career in the trades, embarking on an apprenticeship journey or just looking for recognition of skills in a designated trade.
Employers and industry insiders agree. The more skills training and apprenticeship opportunities, the faster Alberta’s labor shortage problems will stabilize.
The perceptions, attitudes and trends are definitely shifting. While traditionally, apprentices were those interested in entering the skilled trades like construction, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and car mechanics and carpenters, today’s apprenticing possibilities include many contemporary disciplines like cybersecurity, financial services, software development and others.
Management consultants urge companies to step up and establish alternative pathways for historically excluded, early and mid-career talent to support building in-demand skills. Apprenticeships can be a low-risk, high-reward option, because, for business in general, apprenticeship programs also have a strong return on investment.
Research shows the employees hired for skills (like apprentices) vs. those with degrees, stay in their jobs 34 per cent longer, which leads to less turnover and increased loyalty from this untapped talent pool, which reduces the cost of hiring over time.
“While the pandemic initially led to a decline in enrolments for trades courses at NAIT, we are now seeing numbers rebound to pre-pandemic levels. Interestingly, the current trends go beyond just a resurgence in traditional trades courses,” Burkholder points out.
“We’re also witnessing an increase in demand for soft skills training alongside technical training, suggesting that individuals and employers alike are recognizing the importance of a balanced skill set, especially as the job market becomes more competitive in the face of a trades crunch.”
She explains that technology is a factor in how training and apprenticeship courses and programs are delivered.
“While the core of NAIT’s trades courses remains hands-on, technology has enabled us to introduce more flexible delivery models. The use of digital platforms for course materials and assessments also streamlines the learning process, making it easier for students to access resources and for instructors to gauge student progress.”
Corporate and Continuing Education at NAIT is especially responsive to the specific needs of industry partners, by often tailoring courses to meet industry needs. NAIT’s approach aims to prepare students for the real-world technological environments they will encounter in their fields, making them more competitive in the job market and aligning closely with the demands of industry.
