A new program launched by Calgary Economic Development (CED) is finding paid work placements for young people and offering training for digital skills such as using artificial intelligence. Rica Bandigas participated in TalentED Greater Calgary, which included free training and a paid work placement. “(Students can) struggle with imposter syndrome. I think the No. 1 thing I’ve learned is to just show up as yourself. Be yourself and don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” she said. The experience has made Bandigas more hopeful about the start of her career. “There’s that community out there, and there’s people that I have gone through the journey with, and it’s given me a lot of confidence,” she said. The program is no longer in its pilot phase, with $3 million in funding from the Government of Alberta. The provincial funding came from Assisted Living and Social Services. CED says the program targets young people between 18 and 24 years of age. CED has a goal to facilitate 2,000 work placements by 2027 and a larger goal of preparing Calgary’s workforce for the future. “These are meant to be short and meaningful, and there’s always opportunity afterward. We’ve seen it happen—that a young person will stay on with that employer,” said Deana Haley, vice-president of intelligence and productivity and economic developer in residence for CED. In many cases, participating small and medium-sized businesses can access a wage subsidy. Employers say that incentive helps companies grow and helps youth build a resume. Pedesting, a Calgary-based tech company providing accessible navigation tools, says it benefited from TalentED Greater Calgary with a wage subsidy. The student hired via the pilot program is still working with Pedesting. “Getting that first job, understanding what it is to be a good employee, getting that paycheque—we all know what that feels like. So, I think it’s important for employers to (provide that),” said Erin Shilliday, Pedesting’s chief creative officer. With Alberta’s youth unemployment at around 15 per cent, economic experts say it’s critical to find opportunities for the province’s younger population. “That’s actually a good problem to have. As we look at an aging population longer term, it’s really important to have young people entering your workforce,” said Mark Parsons, chief economist with ATB Financial. Parsons expects population growth will further slow down, and the ratio between jobs and workers will balance out through the year.
