WorkFirst Talent Exchange scheduled to launch this summer to 'directly connect employers with qualified candidates'
HR professionals across Western Canada stand to gain new recruitment, training and inclusion tools as Alberta and Manitoba embed workforce priorities into their 2026 budgets.
Alberta has proposed a Budget 2026 that, if passed, will invest “an unprecedented nearly quarter-billion dollars to help Albertans gain and retain meaningful employment,” according to a provincial announcement.
The government said it is committing a record $247 million to career and employment services this year, an increase of more than $60 million over the previous year.
“We’re not just talking about opportunity – we’re delivering it,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services. “This record investment is about opening doors, breaking down barriers and making sure every Albertan has the support they need to get a good job, a steady paycheque and build a future they can count on.”
The investments are being delivered through partnerships with more than 160 service providers, which the government said are helping people access training and connect to jobs in high‑demand sectors including health care, skilled trades, food service, information and technology, and transportation.
WorkFirst Alberta, simulated worksites
WorkFirst Alberta – Alberta’s flagship employment platform which was launched last year – is now the main delivery vehicle for employment services. The province described WorkFirst as “the most ambitious step the province has ever taken to connect Albertans to jobs and employers to job seekers, including those facing barriers to employment.”
WorkFirst offers digital and in‑person supports, including workshops, reskilling opportunities and career services, and is designed to give employers “the tools they need to find and retain talent.” A new job‑matching tool, the WorkFirst Talent Exchange, is scheduled to launch this summer to “directly connect employers with qualified candidates.”
Budget 2026 also allocates $35 million for simulated worksites that provide paid, hands‑on training with local employers. The province said 16 such sites are currently operating, with four more expected to open later this year, to help participants “build the skills they need to move into stable, long‑term employment.”
Targeted supports and wraparound services
A key element of the Alberta strategy is targeted support for job seekers facing barriers, including persons with disabilities, women and youth. The government said its record investment will expand “flexible, person‑centred services focused on long‑term success,” such as career planning, assistive technology and supported job placements, as well as “resources to help employers break down accessibility barriers in their workplace.”
Employment supports are paired with wraparound services including child care, transportation assistance for people with mobility needs and mental health services.
“Above all, it means more Albertans who are blind or have low vision can build confidence, find meaningful work and move forward, while employers create more inclusive workplaces,” said Craig Peterson, executive director of Operations at CNIB.
Recently, Quebec announced that its 2026–2027 budget combines more than $1.7 billion over five years to accelerate the province’s economic transformation with nearly $9.6 billion in additional measures to strengthen public services, support communities and protect purchasing power, while keeping to a path back to balanced finances.
Manitoba focuses on rural growth, health care and agriculture
In Manitoba, Budget 2026 focuses on rural and northern growth, health care and agriculture, with several initiatives that affect employment, training and regional labour markets.
“Our government is investing in the strength of rural and northern Manitoba,” said Finance Minister Adrien Sala. “These communities deserve reliable infrastructure, good jobs and health care they can count on. Budget 2026 delivers real support to help families build a stronger future, close to home.”
The budget marks the third consecutive year of increased municipal support, raising base municipal funding and adding commitments for water infrastructure and the Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO) program.
On the workforce front, Budget 2026 adds $6.3 million to recruit more doctors, invests $4.2 million in a new emergency room at E.M. Crowe Hospital in Eriksdale and funds “new training pathways for nurses, paramedics and internationally trained physicians,” alongside construction or expansion of health centres in several communities.
The Manitoba government, in 2025, launched a campaign to recruit health-care workers from the United States.
Calling agricultural producers “the backbone of Manitoba’s economy,” the government is also maintaining key tax rebates, committing tens of millions of dollars to risk‑management programs and increasing the cap on the Young Farmers Rebate to $425,000, with the lifetime maximum rebate rising to $42,500.
Major capital and trade‑corridor investments include $3.8 billion for infrastructure projects and $262.5 million over five years for the Arctic Gateway Group to develop the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay rail line, supported by a new $10‑million Churchill Catalyst Fund and additional funding for CentrePort Canada.
