Labour Shortages & Housing Affordability

Chamber members consistently rank labour shortages, and the resulting lost opportunities to expand, as the number one issue facing their business.

The Government of Alberta estimates a shortfall of 111,000 workers by 2017.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce recognizes that underrepresented groups of talent, and sub-optimal engagement of Canadians through disincentives for groups such as older workers, aboriginal people, and persons with disabilities, are depriving the economy of a valuable source of potential labour force supply. Other important sources include under- or unemployed Canadians, new immigrants and temporary foreign workers.

The Chamber has made the labour shortages issue a priority at all levels of government through letters to elected officials, policy recommendations and submissions, opinion editorials, and face-to-face meetings with key Ministers.

The Chamber continues to bring forward new ideas to solve Calgary's labour shortage and to improve existing government programs.

Policy Initiatives

Engaging older workers
Aboriginal Workforce Initiative
Improving the immigration and temporary foreign workers programs
Housing affordability

What's New

Policy Resolution: October 6, 2008
Aboriginal Labour Force Strategy: Tapping into an underutilized pool of labour supply

Article: September 30, 2008
New Canada-Alberta agreement focuses on underutilized sources of talent

Article: September 16, 2008
Federal government implements Chamber recommendations to better engage older workers

Article: December 11, 2007
Chamber provides labour shortage solutions to the Federal Human Resources Minister

News Release: November 30, 2007
Chamber unveils 3-point provincial budget strategy to attract the next wave of talented workers

Results

September 30, 2008
New Canada-Alberta agreement focuses on underutilized sources of talent

September 16, 2008
Federal government implements Chamber recommendations to better engage older workers

January 29, 2008
Chamber efforts help foreign workers get here faster

May 15, 2007
Chamber welcomes new Canada-Alberta immigration deal

April 10, 2007
Chamber efforts improve temporary foreign worker program