Job Bank’s latest job market trends and news

Source:http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/LMI_bulletin.do?cid=3373&AREA=25262&INDUSTRYCD=&EVENTCD=

Week of Mar 02 – Mar 06, 2015

• Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health are reducing the rate of pay for hospitalists, which are doctors who specialize in the care of patients in hospitals, in Edmonton, due to a projected budget deficit
• Vermilion Energy is cutting its capital budget, reducing drilling in Canada, implementing a hiring freeze and wage rollbacks due to low energy prices. The company has avoided any price-related layoffs in Canada to date.
• The Airdrie Urgent Care Centre and the Highland Primary Care Network are working together with the community in Airdrie to expand medical services and upgrade care facilities
• The City of Airdrie is conducting an online Business Satisfaction Survey, which will gauge expansion plans and hiring intentions of the business community, with the services of Bannister Research and Consulting. The survey closes March 20, 2015.
• The City of Camrose has accepted a $7.1M tender from BFI Canada for residential solid waste collection from 2015 to 2022. The city will continue with manual waste removal in 2015, but shift to an automated collection system by 2016.
• The Town of High River is expecting to request tenders for the $6.5M Phase 2 redevelopment of the downtown core by the end of March 2015. The construction is planned to be completed by late September 2015.
• Lowe’s, a U.S. home improvement company, expects to hire up to 140 year-round positions and another 40 to 50 seasonal jobs for its new store in Lethbridge, which opens in spring 2015
• The Government of Alberta is gearing up for the 2015 wildfire season with plans to hire 500 firefighters for work during the peak season. There are also contingency plans to quickly hire an additional 1,500 firefighters as needed.
• The Government of Alberta has announced funding for 48 additional continuing care spaces and sprinkler and fire system upgrades at the Good Samaritan Mountain View Centre, a seniors facility, in Hinton
• The Town of Morinville has been granted $8.9M from the Government of Alberta in 2015 for construction of a multi-use recreation centre
• Northern Lakes College in Peace River recently opened the Shell Canada Power Engineering and Technology Centre. The facility will provide the necessary steam time for over 80 power engineering students per year.
• Integra Air will be offering commercial scheduled flights between Bonnyville and Calgary starting April 1, 2015. The company plans to fly eight different aircraft with varying passenger capacities into the Bonnyville Airport.
• The 15th annual Lakeland Regional Job Fair is set to take place on March 18, 2015 at the Bonnyville Centennial Centre. The event has the capacity to host 60 employer booths, attracting employers from the Cold Lake and Bonnyville areas.
• A new Fas Gas Plus station and a renovated Crestomere Store are scheduled to open by May 16, 2015, just north of Red Deer
• Miclex Construction will rebuild the outdoor Henderson Pool in Lethbridge following a decision from the City of Lethbridge to fund the $10.25M project. Construction is scheduled to start in the spring of 2015, with completion by May 2016.
• Savanna Energy Services has announced the cancellation of four advanced drilling rig builds, resulting in a reduction in 2015 capital spending and an impact on 2016 spending intentions. The company is also consolidating some field offices.
• CanElson Drilling has recently announced a 70% cut in capital spending for 2015, and a 20% reduction in executive compensation due to reduced drilling activity. The company is anticipating low drilling activity until late in 2015.
• Pembina Pipeline Corp. has two pipeline projects planned for the Grande Prairie area in 2015, both subject to final regulatory approval. The company estimates that the two projects will require between 150 and 300 workers.
• Alberta Innovates, a research and development organization in Edmonton, laid off 28 staff members on March 3, 2015 due to declining work in the oil and gas sectors. The positions impacted include applied research staff and administrative employees.