Province invests $33 million in Training for Work program

Grants awarded to organisations to deliver services to over 5,000 unemployed Albertans

BY Jim Wilson 13 May 2025

Alberta is helping arm jobseekers with the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace.

The provincial government is investing over $33 million through the Training for Work program for the 2024–25 fiscal year.

“Alberta needs more skilled workers to meet the labour market demands of our growing economy,” said Matt Jones, minister of jobs, economy and trade. “Training for Work helps unemployed or underemployed Albertans get the skills and support they need to return to the workforce or upskill into new roles, while also assisting Alberta’s employers in filling high-demand positions with job-ready workers.”

The government’s latest investment will support skills training and employment services for 5,152 Albertans over the next four years.

The programs funded by the government’s latest investment are providing skills training and employment supports for 5,152 Albertans over the next four years.

Previously, Alberta announced it is investing $15 million over the next three years to create a new grant program that will empower unions to offer apprenticeship training in high-demand programs.

Training for Work subcategories

Training for Work programs offer skill development and employment services to unemployed Albertans in more than 50 communities across Alberta. In 2024-25, Alberta added programs to 23 communities.

New training programs and services are available in the following communities, among others:

Calgary
Edmonton
Medicine Hat
Red Deer
Brooks
Airdrie
Fort McMurray
Lloydminster
Leduc
Grande Prairie
Camrose
Wetaskiwin

The programs were added under four subcategories:

Integrated Training programs provide industry-recognized skills, hands-on experience and job search support to help Albertans re-enter the workforce.
Immigrant Bridging programs help newcomers get their credentials recognized and use their skills and education in Alberta’s labour market.
Transition to Employment Services offers personalized support, including career counselling, job matching and up to $7,000 for short-term training and work exposure – to help Albertans rejoin the workforce.
Workplace Training links unemployed Albertans with employers for on-the-job training, wage reimbursements, and up to $7,000 for off-site training to fill skill gaps and support long-term employment.

“BGS Career Ventures is proud to deliver Training for Work programs that help Albertans overcome employment barriers and build meaningful long-term careers,” Steve McGean, managing partner, BGS Career Ventures, adding that they have “helped hundreds of Albertans including youth, older workers, newcomers and others facing challenges, connect to the labour market across a wide range of industries.”

Training for Work is funded in part by Alberta’s government, as well as by the federal government through the Labour Market Transfer Agreement (LMTA).

Previously, the Canada-Alberta Job Grant was closed for applications following “Ottawa’s unexpected and unreasonable decision to cut $70.8 million in LMTA funding for Alberta,” said Jones. Earlier, the ministers of provinces in Atlantic Canada demanded that the federal government reverse the cuts it made to the LMTAs under Budget 2024.

Ontario and Nova Scotia have also recently announced investments for workers’ skills development.