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Alberta Continues to Need Skilled Workers

Monday, 22 March 2010 00:00

Immense job losses resulting from the recent economic downturn has somehow mitigated labor shortage issues in the province of Alberta. As the economy is expected to pick up within this year and the next, this revival appears to be a double-edged sword, especially for those engaged in recruitment. Old issues regarding the scarcity of workers with the right skills loom over the province. According to Terry Jorden, spokesman for Alberta Employment and Immigration, despite the transformation of the labor market brought about by the sluggish economy, the province will still experience a shortage in labor supply once the economy bounces back.

Edmonton Based Filipino Recruitment Scam

An employment agency called 4J's Garcia has been scamming Filipino workers based in both Edmonton and the Philippines. The agency has been operating without a license and collecting fees from Filipino workers, with the promise that it will secure employment in Alberta for them or their loved ones back home. Its operator, Josephine Garcia Ramoso, was found guilty of breaching the Canadian Fair Trading Act, which compels recruitment and employment agencies to obtain a business license. The Alberta Employment Agency Business Licensing Regulation also prohibits agencies from "directly or indirectly demanding or charging a fee, reward, or other compensation to a person seeking employment or information about employers seeking employees, or for securing employment or information about any employer."

City of Edmonton Launches New Job Site

Sunday, 14 March 2010 00:00

It might not be long before the City of Edmonton totally sheds off its nickname "The Festival City" for the new title of "City of Opportunity." In fact, the city has already used the label as a banner for its new recruitment site, which the city's recruitment office boasts of as the first of its kind in Canada. While the web is crawling with career search websites, the Edmonton Talent Hub is the only municipal job site in the country. Like most job sites, it showcases employment opportunities in distinct job categories, but what is unique about Edmonton's Talent Hub is that potential candidates get to evaluate their prospects by learning what current employees have to say about working for the City of Edmonton. The site highlights the city's living conditions, recreation, and opportunities for career advancement.

Government Budget Cuts Worse than Recession

Sunday, 28 February 2010 00:00

Soon after the US subprime mortgage crisis had snowballed into the breakdown of banking systems worldwide, governments launched bailout packages to stimulate consumption. In a business cycle, the period of recession is characterized by a contraction in economic activity, which is typically evident through a shrinking GDP. To expand it, the economic theory of John Maynard Keynes has governments increasing their spending through transfer payments and purchase of goods and services, so that firms can continue production and cover employee wages, which, in turn, will mean sustained consumption and taxes.

Why work in Edmonton?

If you plan on heading to Edmonton and are looking for work, just what can you expect the job market to look like? We think this graph says it all: