OTTAWA, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#alberta–A multi-stakeholder group including Electricity Human Resources Canada
(EHRC), the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), TransAlta, Women in
Renewable Energy (WiRE), the Ministry of Labour, education partners, and
others are launching a new project aiming to develop a more inclusive
and scalable labour force for Alberta’s electricity needs. The Support
Equity and Under-Represented Groups project will address the
under-representation of key groups in Albert’s electricity workforce and
develop a strategy for inclusivity in sector workplaces.
Alberta’s electricity demands, particularly for renewable energy
sources, have been growing steadily and are anticipated to continue
increasing: with 13,000 workers in the sector as of 2018 (according to
EHRC’s Labour Market Intelligence for Alberta’s Energy
Sector—Workforce Transitions 2018 report). While demand has been
growing, many groups are under-represented in the workforce: women make
up just 30% of Alberta’s electricity labour force compared to 46% as the
average across all other industries, Indigenous people only make up 3-8%
of the Canadian workforce despite being the fastest growing population
in Canada, and Canadians with disabilities make up only 1-2% of the
national workforce. Newcomers and migrant workers are also a major
contributor to Alberta’s energy sector: they provide an invaluable role
in labour and will continue to do so. This project will provide
actionable recommendations and enduring plans for employers to attract,
retain, and provide a supportive workplace environment for these groups.
Concurrently, this project will support attracting younger Albertans to
the electricity workforce—workers under the age of 25 currently only
account for 5% of the energy industry in Alberta, compared to 14% for
all industries across the province.
“As Alberta works to improve the provincial economy and create jobs, we
also need to focus on maintaining a highly skilled workforce to meet
current and future demands of the energy industry. Our workforce is
changing and it’s important to provide opportunities for Albertans of
all backgrounds to contribute and succeed,” said Jason Copping, Minister
of Labour and Immigration.
“As Alberta continues to be a major innovator in energy, it must also be
an innovator in developing an engaged, skilled, and diverse workforce
that meet the province’s energy needs,” said Michelle Branigan, CEO of
EHRC. “The groups we see under-represented in Alberta’s electric
workforce are an incredible opportunity to develop into skilled talent
for the province’s energy future.”
The 18 month project which launched in February 2019 represents an
investment of over $220,000 into research, consultation, resource
development, education planning, and employer support. The outcomes will
be a more diverse workforce, capable of meeting Alberta’s energy needs
sustainably as the province continues to be a leader in energy
development both in Canada and across the world.
About Electricity Human Resources Canada
Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) is Canada’s most trusted
source of objective human resources information and tools to help the
Canadian electricity industry match workforce supply and demand. EHRC is
a not-for-profit organization helping to keep the lights on in Canada by
enabling a world-class workforce for the entire electricity industry.
Contacts
Alex Hosselet, Marketing and Communications Manager
Electricity
Human Resources Canada
613.235.5540 ext. 239
[email protected]
