Alberta is well positioned to thrive amid disruptors like demographic change and rapid technological development, but meeting the demand for skilled workers will be essential to ensuring its long-term prosperity. This report examines the state of skills gaps in Alberta, drawing on relevant literature, current data, and a series of interviews with Alberta employers and labour market experts. The first in a series, it lays the groundwork for in-depth analyses of the skills requirements in seven key sectors of the province’s economy, providing a broad overview of skills supply and demand in the province.

• Alberta is well positioned to thrive amid disruptors like demographic change and rapid technological development, but meeting the demand for skilled workers will be essential to ensuring its long-term prosperity.
• Skills needs in Alberta are evolving. In-demand jobs increasingly require post-secondary education, and employers are prioritizing new skill sets such as creative/problem-solving skills, digital skills, skills related to international collaboration, and social/human skills.
• There is also a continued need for essential skills such as literacy and numeracy. These will be critical in enabling individuals to adapt to the changing workplace.
• As the economic landscape changes, both employers and post-secondary institutions will have a role in ensuring that Alberta has access to the well-educated, highly skilled workforce it needs.