Community Futures Wild Rose presents regional workforce development study

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Community Futures Wild Rose presented a regional workforce development study to the Wheatland County Public Presentation Committee during the Aug. 20 meeting.

The workforce development study was prepared for Community Futures Wild Rose in partnership with Wheatland County, the Town of Strathmore, Kneehill County, Prospect Human Services, and the Government of Alberta. 

Chantale Sangster, executive director for Community Futures Wild Rose, presented the study before the committee. 

“The Community Futures Wild Rose region’s businesses are currently experiencing significant labour shortages, which is of critical concern for the regional economy and community well-being,” she said. “Several substantial investments are on the horizon including projects by Phytokana (formerly Phyto Organics), CGC, and (the) De Haviland aircraft facility. These investments are expected to generate over 3,000 new jobs in the region, which, while promising for economic growth, will place additional strain on an already tight labour market.”

Sangster explained in response to the ongoing labour challenges, Community Futures Wild Rose initiated a regional workforce development project. 

The primary goals of the project being to evaluate the current labour dynamics within the region, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by employers and workers, and to develop strategies aimed at effectively meeting both current and future labour demands. 

“This study was crucial for ensuring that our region can adapt to and thrive amidst these challenges by understanding the labour market dynamics and addressing the needs of both employers and workers,” she said. “We aim to create a resilient and sustainable workforce that can support the region’s economic growth.”

Presented in the study, it was indicated that the labour market within the Community Futures Wild Rose region is struggling with many of the same challenges common across Canada, though there are some instances unique to the local region. 

GDP growth in the region was shown to have been sluggish since 2015, as the local region struggled with the economic hardships which took place in 2015, and in 2020-2021.

Agriculture and oil and gas sectors are anticipated to see a decrease in labour demand in the coming years, while construction is expected to see significant increases in demand. 

“The economic growth in our region has been significantly influenced by key sectors including agriculture, oil and gas, construction, and real estate,” said Sangster. “These sectors are critical to our GDP, but they have faced various challenges that have slowed overall growth. One of the most pressing issues is the shortage of both skilled and general workers. This shortage is impacting the productivity and the ability to complete projects on time.”

More information regarding the survey is publicly available through the Public Presentation Committee’s Aug. 20 meeting agenda.