The Alberta Government will be allocating 3.2 million dollars to train more Albertans in the construction industry. The Trade Pathways Program will target unemployed or underemployed young Albertans and provide them with on-the-job mentorship and apprenticeship training. 

The 33-month program is in partnership with the Alberta Construction Association, End Poverty Edmonton, and the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. 

The initiative will offer hands-on training to help prepare new Albertan Apprentices for jobs in the trades.  

The 3.2-million-dollar investment will help support wage increases, preparatory training, and tool costs for the apprentices.  

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education says “Alberta’s construction sector is integral to the growth and economic prosperity of our province. As outlined in the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy, we are focused on building a highly skilled and competitive workforce that will be ready to meet increased industry demands while helping young Albertans access the training, they need to find good-paying jobs.” 

The announcement came following a recent shortage in skilled labour work. 

“Construction firms are facing a severe shortage of skilled labourers in Alberta. As the province rebuilds post-pandemic, the shortage of qualified tradespeople is becoming dire.” says Patrick Schmidtz, the President and General Manager of Jardeg Construction 

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