February 2012 - With a 9.3% year over year employment growth rate in Alberta (from 2010 - 2011), 2012 is set to be another year of expansion in our province. After the 2008 - 2009 economic recession Alberta is glad to see this increase, as it places the province ahead of the rest of Canada in terms of employment rates.

With companies and industries still rebuilding from the recession, Alberta is set for a steady climb in available jobs. As the labour market tightens, Human Resource departments should be prepared to:

• Have a smaller pool of candidates to choose from. People will not be as readily available, especially for temporary positions, as they were over the past couple years;
• Work closely with a staffing provider to help find the most qualified individuals to fill open positions;
• Focus more on personality fit and attitude when considering individuals for positions; and
• Be willing to train on skills for an individual who has the right personality fit for the position.

Which Industry Sectors?

Not all sectors were equally affected by the recession; many have been able to steadily manage throughout and will not see as large a jump in available openings. That being said, the industries that will most likely have high growth rates over the next few years include:

• Sectors hit hard by recession in 2008 - 2009 (i.e. Manufacturing, Energy, Real Estate, etc.); and
• Health care and social aid, due to the aging baby boomer population.

By understanding which industries are set for job expansion, HR departments will be able to strategize employment growth within their organizations. In addition, job seekers will be able to understand what skills they will need to enhance and train on for positions that will be opening up.

TIP for Job Seekers: Now is the time to upgrade both hard and soft skills, ensuring you have the most up-to-date skill set possible when positions become available, thereby putting you at the top of the hire list!

Positive Outlook

As Alberta, and Calgary in particular, gets ready to embrace the next employment boom, it is crucial to know which industries will have openings, and what types of employee skills and personalities will be required to fill these openings. With a positive outlook ahead, businesses and individuals can take proactive steps for career and company planning.

Blog contribution by Lindsay Harle (The Write Harle)

Sources Used:

Babad, Michael. Jobs picture better in west, particularly in Alberta. Globe and Mail Update. Phillip Crawley. January 9, 2012.

Hirsch, Todd. Alberta's job market in 2012. Beacon News. Troy Media. January 8, 2012.