The Research
Overview
The Alberta Perspectives: Hiring Intentions and Skills Training report provides the latest insights into employers’ hiring expectations, workforce challenges, and skills needs across the province. Findings from this research show steady long-term confidence among Alberta businesses, though short-term caution is emerging amid ongoing economic uncertainty and shifting labour market dynamics.
Methodology
This research is part of the ongoing Alberta Perspectives research series, conducted in partnership with The Strategic Counsel.
Between July 10 and 28, 2025, more than 320 businesses from across Alberta participated through the Alberta Perspectives platform. Respondents represented a mix of private, public, and non-profit organizations across all major industries and regions of the province.
How we’ll use our findings
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce will use these insights to inform advocacy on workforce development, training, and labour policy. Understanding employers’ challenges helps guide conversations with government and post-secondary partners on improving skills alignment, strengthening the talent pipeline, and supporting economic competitiveness across Alberta’s regions and sectors.
Key Findings
- Cautious optimism in hiring – 35% of Alberta employers anticipate growing their workforce over the next year, but more expect staffing levels to remain steady in the near term, suggesting a more measured approach to hiring.
- Staffing shortages persist – Nearly half (49%) of businesses continue to face moderate or significant shortages, consistent with 2024 levels.
- Operational impacts remain high – Staffing shortages are most likely to affect profitability (57%), meeting production targets (44%), and fulfilling core business functions (44%).
- Labour market pressures easing – Fewer employers cite a lack of applicants or competition from other employers as major hiring barriers compared to previous years.
- Skills gaps continue – A lack of technical skills and qualifications remains the leading challenge to recruitment, cited by nearly half (47%) of employers.
- Management roles harder to fill – Hiring for senior management (80%), technical/trades (77%), and professional/scientific positions (81%) remains significantly more difficult than for entry-level roles.
- AI impact limited—for now – Most employers (64%) do not expect artificial intelligence to affect their workforce size in the near future, though 80% of those who do are already preparing for change.
- Sectoral differences evident – Private-sector employers are more likely than public or non-profit organizations to anticipate workforce growth in both the six- and twelve-month outlooks.