Australian job fair draws a crowd.
Posted May 8, 2011 9:28 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Another work boot has dropped in the battle for Alberta workers.
An Australian job fair Saturday at a downtown Calgary ballroom attracted 900 potential workers, twice as many as what organizers were anticipating.
The Aussie effort comes as Alberta faces a labour shortage estimated at 77,000 workers over the next 10 years. It also comes on the heels of similar recruiting efforts by Saskatchewan, last year.
Richard Truscott of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business tells the Calgary Herald, it’s game on for Alberta labourers. He adds it’s time to come up with effective strategies to attract and retain workers in the province.
Alberta’s Employment Minister says there’s another problem though. Thomas Lukaszuk says Canada’s immigration policies aren’t as a flexible as other countries, including Australia’s.
The Aussies are in the midst of their own labour shortage thanks to spikes in oil & gas and mining activity.
The Australian job fair continues Sunday in Calgary, before moving to Edmonton, next weekend.
