Skills In Motion: U.S. Workers May Hold the Key to Canada’s Skills Shortage

Canada’s “skills gap” is not new, but the aging population and resource boom make it acute and jeopardize Canada’s ability to take full advantage of economic opportunities. Today, Canadian policy-makers, employers, unions, and educators are seeking ways to match skilled workers with demand, including: making it easier to draw from domestic sources, increasing spending on training, and utilizing temporary and permanent immigration options.

By virtue of their proximity and similar training and experience, U.S. workers are well suited to help fill shortages in Canada’s skilled trades but lengthy processing times and uneven recognition of foreign skills and certification create barriers to labour market entry.

This briefing looks at Alberta’s success with U.S. worker recruitment and highlights a number of lessons for employers and policy-makers that may want to adapt or develop a similar strategy for other Canadian sectors and regions with skills gaps.