SAIT Initiative: Career Programs Counter AI Job Threat

CALGARY — SAIT is rolling out career transition programs as automation creeps into more Calgary jobs, promising workers a lifeline as AI reshapes the employment landscape.

The polytechnic's Continuing Education division is partnering with industry to offer training through tools like "My Career Pathways." Sara Struthers from SAIT Continuing Education says the programs help people adapt when their jobs vanish or transform overnight.

Translation: They're trying to get ahead of the pink slips.

The Money Behind the Plan

SAIT is pushing micro-credentials—bite-sized certifications like "Emerging Technologies and AI for Leaders"—as quick upskilling fixes. The move fits into Alberta's broader "Jobs Strategy 2025-2030," launched in September 2025, and SAIT's own "Bold Futures" strategic plan from May 2025.

The province put its money where its mouth is. Alberta Budget 2025 directed $30 million to redevelop SAIT's Taylor Family Campus Centre and $7.4 billion total for post-secondary education. That includes $78 million per year for three years to create more apprenticeship seats.

SAIT's "Real Futures" fundraising campaign has pulled in $125 million of its $150 million goal.

But Students Aren't Buying It

In February 2025, the SAIT Students' Association co-signed an open letter torching provincial funding cuts made between 2019 and 2023. Students warned the cuts were gutting program quality and support services—the exact things workers need when retraining for new careers.

So while the government talks up workforce readiness, students say the foundation is cracking.

Who's Hiring (For Now)

SAIT has lined up industry partners to keep training relevant: Lufthansa Technik Canada, Imperial Oil, Honda Canada, and the Calgary Stampede. The goal is matching skills to what employers actually need today.

The urgency is real. Oil sector automation has slashed jobs. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high. And more disruption is coming as AI tools become standard across industries.

Whether micro-credentials can keep pace with job losses is the question no one's answering yet.