Job Bank’s latest news, trends in Alberta

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

Week of Apr 27 – May 01, 2015

• Mullen Group, based in Okotoks, has cut approximately 1,000 positions in the first quarter of 2015 due to low oil prices. The job losses were made through a combination of layoffs and attrition.
• Weatherford International, a global oil field services company, has announced plans to further cut its workforce by 18% in 2015. The company plans to shut down and consolidate 60 operating facilities in North America by the end of this year.
• Baker Hughes, an international oil field services company, has announced an additional 3,500 job cuts during the first quarter of 2015. The company expects a further decline in drilling rig counts during the second quarter of 2015.
• Precision Drilling recently announced a reduction in staff and the number of operating facilities in North America. The company has reduced field staff by 2,500 positions and cut 14% of salaried employees.
• Edmonton-based Braden-Burrey Expediting has opened a new air and multimodal cargo facility near the Edmonton International Airport. The company handles freight for 10 airlines in the city, as well as logistics and supply-chain functions.
• Gibson Energy is building new tanks for its crude oil storage capacity at Hardisty to support the growth plans of Suncor Energy. Over 50% of the new capacity is backed by a long-term agreement with Teck Resources.
• The City of Calgary saved $6.3M by not filling 231 vacant positions during the first quarter of 2015. Many of the positions have since been filled in order to satisfy service delivery.
• Telus is investing $212M in Calgary during 2015 to improve its wireless services and expand its fiber optic network. The company is also continuing construction of the Telus Sky tower in the downtown core and developing Telus Health programs.
• Macdonald Development Corporation has announced that it has taken over the MonTerra development on Cochrane Lake after the original owners declared bankruptcy
• The Chvrch of John, a new 200-patron restaurant and art bar, is scheduled to open in downtown Edmonton by September 2015. The Artery, another venue that recently closed, will be relocating pending approval from the city.
• Providence Christian school in Monarch has broken ground on a $1.3M expansion that will add a gymnasium, eight classrooms, a kitchen and offices. Construction is scheduled for completion by the spring of 2016.
• The historic Buena Vista apartment block in Edmonton is scheduled for demolition following approval from city council for rezoning. Edgar Development Corp. is planning a 240-unit rental apartment on the site.
• The Grande Spirit Foundation has received $19.6M from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada for a 150-unit seniors facility in the Hamlet of Clairmont. Occupancy is planned for December of 2016.
• The Town of High River is proceeding with the demolition of flooded homes and the decommissioning of the Wallaceville neighbourhood
• Essentra PLC, a U.K.-based global supplier of specialty packaging products for the oil and gas industry and other sectors, has opened a new distribution centre in Leduc. The facility serves two Essentra business lines involved with drilling and manufacturing.
• Portage College held a Career Expo aimed at high school students at its Lac La Biche Campus on April 21, 2015. The event showcased career opportunities available in northern Alberta.
• The City of Leduc is starting its annual census on April 28, 2015. The city is offering an online option for the census, but enumerators will also be working to visit households from May 25 to June 30, 2015.
• A recent joint report from BuildForce Canada and the Canadian Home Builders Association is projecting a strong demand for residential construction workers from 2015 to 2024
• McDonald’s Restaurants has installed self-serve touchscreen kiosks in one of their locations in Lloydminster as part of a pilot project evaluating the new technology. The franchise is currently one of three restaurants taking part in the program.
• Three Future Shop stores in the Edmonton region have reopened under the Best Buy banner, following a Canada-wide shutdown in March 2015. The new stores have retained some local staff, but also hired new employees.
• Auctioneer Ritchie Bros. recently held Canada’s largest ever heavy equipment auction in Nisku. The auction attracted over 11,000 bidders from 50 countries.
• The Wainwright Regional Waste to Energy Authority suspended operations at its incinerator in Wainwright on April 22, 2015, after failing emissions tests. The facility burns 98% of Alberta’s biomedical waste.