The Edmonton Region includes a large, skilled labour force with the education and experience to help you grow your business.
The talent in the Edmonton Region is skilled and ready. We are one of the youngest Regions in the country and have been ranked as the best community in the country for youth work according to the Urban Work Index.
With eight post-secondary institutions in the Region and 130,000 enrolled students, businesses have access to the talent they need, when they need it.
89% of employers in Alberta are highly satisfied with the skills and work quality of post-secondary graduates.
Our province is the fourth largest supplier of STEM graduates in the country. From 2012 to 2016:
All Regional institutions have strong connections with local businesses and industries.
NAIT conducts surveys with local employers to ensure that their programs align with industry needs and 94% of their current research projects partner with industry.
At the University of Alberta, an engineering co-op partners over 1,400 students with employers each year to help them gain real-world experience.
The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their employee(s) for eligible training costs. The government will supply up anywhere from 60% to 100% of the costs depending on the circumstances.
Canada attracts millions of international students each year. Canadian universities saw a 25% increase in international applications in 2017-2018 and Canada now ranks as the world’s 4th most popular destination for international students.
First generation newcomers make up 23% of the Edmonton Region’s population, creating diverse, welcoming and vibrant communities and workplaces.
Canada’s robust immigration system has allowed people from around the world to make our Region their home, bringing unique talents and expertise to our growing economy.
The Government of Canada’s Global Skills Strategy makes it easier for businesses to attract the talent needed to succeed in the global marketplace. The strategy features faster application processing times, work permit exemptions, and enhanced customer service.
The Global Talent Stream allows employers to bring top international talent to Canada quickly. Eligible foreign workers with employer-approved applications can receive work permits within two weeks.
The program provides an open work permit, which allows international graduates to work for any Canadian employer in any industry without the requirement of a Canadian job offer at the time of applying.
