Alberta’s Strategy: UAE Workers in the Mix?

Alberta recently hit the brakes on a planned international recruitment mission to the United Arab Emirates. The initiative, revealed in December 2024, aimed to attract highly skilled and English-proficient foreign workers for early 2025. However, the province cancelled the trip just days later, with Immigration Minister Muhammad Yaseen citing a review of the mission's purpose.

This move followed criticism from labour leaders, who voiced concerns about potential impacts on local job availability and wage growth for skilled workers. It's a key discussion point as Calgary's own labour market shows signs of optimism, with unemployment dropping to 7.3% in February 2025. Yet, certain sectors in the province still face persistent labour shortages.

Despite the scrapped UAE trip, Alberta isn't slowing its overall global recruitment efforts. The province continues to attract talent through programs like the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). For perspective, the AAIP issued nearly 10,000 nominations in 2024, with over 85% going to temporary foreign workers already established in Alberta. The push for skilled workers in critical areas like healthcare, construction, and technology remains strong.