City to study labour needs as hundreds of new jobs set to arrive in Medicine Hat

By Collin Gallant on November 23, 2018.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com @CollinGallant

Local governments, the province and private sector will soon launch a $122,000 study into labour needs and supply in the Medicine Hat region, a City of Medicine Hat committee heard Wednesday.

Administrators say that will address how the local economy can fill up to 750 new positions by matching workers’ skill levels to employer needs.

“A lot of legwork is being done already … but the ultimate goal is to find out how big the need is and find a solution,” said development commissioner Stan Schwartzenberger.

The study comes about six months after is was first proposed alongside an announcement that Aurora Cannabis would build a large growing facility here, requiring construction crews first then a permanent operating staff of about 450.

That, coupled with other announcements, left elected officials wondering how the positions could best be filled in an area that has a workforce of about 32,000, and an unemployment rate of about 5 per cent.

Those workers have a variety of qualifications however, and filling employer needs can be difficult.

The goal is to build a workforce profile as well as a demand outlook, then develop a strategy to fill any gaps.

It will also evaluate emerging trends, and suggest ways to capitalize on the new opportunities without overpromising on labour supply to potential investors.

“It will be very interesting to see the results,” said committee vice-chair Coun. Jim Turner.

The study, including the creation of a task force to suggest ways to better bolster existing business expansion, could run through the end of 2019, but would result in a forum event to “celebrate economic growth” and set priority areas.

The study will also discern the post-construction labour requirements of new entrants to the regions, including Aurora Cannabis, which has said its planned $130 million growing facility could require more than 400 workers next year.

Other new notable employers include Hut 8, which hired about 45 workers this summer, and Capital Power, which plans to commission a major wind farm near Bow Island next fall.

Beyond those however, a grocery store and three hotels are under construction in south Medicine Hat, and would cumulatively require about 200 employees when operating.

Two substantial seniors’ living facilities are also in the planning stages.

The labour study will be paid for with $42,500 from a provincial grant, $15,000 from the existing budget of the city’s business support office, and third-party funding totalling $32,500.

That includes amounts from Medicine Hat College ($15,000), Community Futures Entre-Crop ($10,000), Aurora Cannabis ($5,000) and Hut 8 Cryptocurrency ($2,500). An additional $32,500 is pending, and includes a potential second provincial grant, money from other economic developers in the region and other private sector dollars.

18
-17