Oil sands boom adds to worker shortage woes

In labour hungry Alberta, more oil sands production is predicted through to the year 2020, a portent that may compound the province’s construction industry woes.

A Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) study predicts the oil sands in Fort McMurray will triple production, pushing spending over $7.5 billion mark.

Limited time for training and demand in ICI sector construction will be pushed to the limits when the bitumen boom hits its full potential.
Potential means plenty of jobs for the construction industry, but too much of a good thing can compound the issues facing the Albertan industry, says the Edmonton Construction Association’s (ECA) executive director Darlene La Trace.

“The same thing has happened over the past two years — as soon as there’s a boom in Fort McMurray, the strains are felt everywhere, because we don’t have the people,” says La Trace. “The bottom line is, it means a positive with plenty of work ahead.

“But, if (the oil sands) are heading in that direction and there’s no slowdown in sight, then we’re going to continue to have the same challenges.”

“The question is: is there enough labour force that can fly in from other provinces that can relieve the pressure on that market?”

Daily Commercial News