Steering Committee Stu Boland, Jacobs Shawn Derby, IBM Bud Conroy, Fluor Canada Wendy Hanrahan, TransCanada Suzanne Winger, Supply Chain Management Evelyn Cutts, Critical Mass Sandra Anderson, Husky Energy Susan Cassidy, Calgary Health Region John Simpson, Standens Ken Vinge, Bowen Peggy Valentine, University of Calgary

Calgary Economic Development (CED), in partnership with industry, business, government and the education sector has launched the Workforce Development Initiative: CalgaryWorks.

Results from this consultation process reaffirmed a clear need to take action in developing a coordinated labour strategy. Not only to examine current and future labour force requirements, but also develop tangible actions in order to advance our competitive position in the global economy.

CalgaryWorks is an innovative outcome-focused response to increasing labour and skills shortages in the Calgary Region.

Learn more about CalgaryWorks - 962KB
Sponsorship Information CalgaryWorks 2007 (PDF) - 191KB


Goal
CalgaryWorks seeks to maintain sustained economic growth and prosperity in the Calgary Economic Region through workforce development and human capital attraction efforts.

Vision
CalgaryWorks envisions a future where Calgary has a productive and economically effective workforce with the appropriate mix of skills and abilities, and one that is prepared for continuous changes in our environment.

Mission
To enhance economic development in the Calgary Region by increasing the supply of competent employees and improving the quality of life for Calgarians.

Core Functions
Calgary Economic Development is poised to act as the catalyst, participating in partnership with businesses, post-secondary education, government and industry stakeholders in the implementation of this initiative.

All Workforce Development activities, services and products fall within four core functions:

1. Effective Public/Private Partnerships

Create and develop effective public/private partnerships to establish a premier workforce for Calgary businesses while enhancing quality of life for those in the community.
2. Public Awareness

Communicate the urgency of addressing current and future skill and labour shortages.
3. Diverse Workforce

Encourage, support and educate community and business leaders as they seek to value and strengthen diversity in the workplace. This includes diversity of skills and different ethnic backgrounds.
4. Promoting Careers

Support industry in an outreach strategy for Calgary's high schools, post-secondary institutions and the community in general in an effort to diversify the career choices of students, educators, parents, adults and other stakeholders to meet industry needs; and development of strategies to ease the in-migration and immigration process for companies facing labour and skill shortages.

• Action #1 Communication Tools: Deliver new and existing regional workforce information to community members and support human capital attraction efforts to the Calgary Region
• Action #2 Labour Force Profile & Forecast: Complete an assessment of labour market trends, occupational projections and shortages for key sectors in the Calgary Economic Region and establish goals, objectives and actions to address each of the shortage areas identified
• Action #3 Best Practices Forum: Promote sharing of best practices between employers, and capitalize on unique strengths of the region to help build new and expanded partnerships responding to current and future labour and skill shortages