Kaycee Madu, Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions

By rdnewsNOW staff

Budget 2023

Province highlighting support for youth pursuing careers in the trades

Mar 25, 2023 | 2:55 PM

Alberta’s government says it is partnering with two long-standing organizations to support opportunities for youth in the skilled trades and technology industries.

Government officials say Budget 2023 invests a total of $30.4 million over three years in CAREERS: The Next Generation and Skills Canada Alberta, as they empower youth to build rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

“Investing in the proven and complementary programs of CAREERS: The Next Generation and Skills Canada Alberta will help our youth discover engaging, high-demand careers that deliver an excellent quality of life and will keep our economic momentum going strong,” says Kaycee Madu, Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions.

Officials say the apprenticeship learning model is a valuable form of work-integrated learning and a proven way to increase graduate readiness for the workplace.

Through targeted support for apprenticeship education, Alberta’s government says it is helping students develop job-ready skills while strengthening the talent pipeline for business and industry.

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“We are excited for Alberta’s youth in this year’s budget announcement. Enabling our next generation to discover their career passion and become productive, motivated and innovative participants in the workplace is critically important to Alberta’s economic success,” says Andy Neigel, president and CEO, CAREERS: The Next Generation.

“On behalf of Skills Canada Alberta, I extend a profound thank you to Minister Madu and the Government of Alberta for continuing to support Alberta’s young people in their pursuit of excellence in the trades and technologies,” shares Ray Massey, board president, Skills Canada Alberta. “Their success is good for our province. Their success makes Alberta prosperous.”

“This continuation of funding allows us to provide a platform for students who are about to begin their education and career journey with the experience and skill development that only our competitions can provide them,” adds Massey.

CAREERS: The Next Generation is described as a not-for-profit foundation that connects high school students with employers for participation in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). The organization also aims to promote apprenticeship education options for young Albertans.

Skills Canada Alberta is described as a not-for-profit organization that creates opportunities for young Albertans to explore careers in trades and technology. The organization is also said to lead participation in the Skills Canada National Competition, to demonstrate Alberta’s trades talent on the national and world stage.

In 2022, provincial officials say CAREERS connected 372 schools with 1,344 employers to arrange 2,430 internships for high school students interested in a career in the skilled trades. The government says Skills Canada Alberta works with about 19,000 students in 200 Alberta communities annually.

Alberta government quick facts

• Through Budget 2023, the Government of Alberta is investing $23.5 million in CAREERS: The Next Generation programs over three years.
• Through Budget 2023, the Government of Alberta is investing $6.9 million in Skills Canada Alberta programs over three years.
• CAREERS: The Next Generation has arranged 34,163 internships since it was founded in 1997.
• Every year, approximately 700 youth from across the province compete in skilled trade and technology competitions with the support of Skills Canada Alberta.
• In addition to funding for CAREERS: The Next Generation and Skills Canada Alberta, Budget 2023 promotes opportunities in the skilled trades by providing $10.7 million over three years to Women Building Futures.