Housing is a major engine of growth in Alberta. As of 2006, about 120,520 direct and indirect jobs were generated by all housing activity taking place in the region. The value of new home construction and renovation in the province was $13 billion.

At the same time, skilled labour shortages continues to be the number one issue facing the industry. While demand for housing is strong, the lack of sufficient skilled labour is constraining the ability of the industry to respond in many parts of the province. Economic growth, competition from other industries, aging of the workforce, and other factors have created the need for an over-haul of labour force planning. This is essential if the industry is to compete successfully for enough workers with the right skills, and in the right places. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Alberta (CHBA - Alberta) serves home builders and renovators, and their trade and supplier partners, throughout the province. Our mission is to make the industry better through work on building codes and standards, government relations, safety, education, energy efficient housing, networking opportunities and more. Our vision is to shape the future of housing for Albertans.

Speaking with one voice is increasingly important to both our provincial and local associations. One Voice - One Industry (OVOI) is a strong member-driven commitment to reinvest in the Association and the industry as it faces serious challenges that are both immediate and long-term.
It has provided the Association with the resources to coordinate labour development activities under the leadership of CHBA – Alberta, working collaboratively with the Local HBAs. To do this, CHBA - Alberta has prepared a comprehensive, industry-based workforce development plan called Skilled Labour Development (SLD).

for the Canadian Home Builders' Association - Alberta

involves joint initiatives with governments, colleges and industry partners. Specific objectives of the Plan are to:

Increase high school entry into the industry by 5% by 2009.

Have 100% job placement for students interested
in mentorship programs.

Increase participation in industry training by 10% annually.

Maintain retention levels at or above provincial standards.

Improve the residential construction worker immigration rate in Alberta by 50% in 2007 and 100% in 2008.

Increase the number of apprentices or certified skilled trades by 100% by 2010.

Increase the size of the industry workforce by 5% by 2008.

There is a supportive industry environment for the development of a skilled workforce. A comprehensive training program is offered through the Professional Home Builders’ Institute of Alberta. The Alberta New Home Warranty Program is promoting a designation status for the Residential Site Manager occupation The Centre for Excellence has laid a solid foundation of innovative work on career pathways and summer mentorship partnerships between the Calgary Region Home Builders’ Association and Calgary high schools. Local HBA’s provide scholarships for community college students in their area. All of these activities support
CHBA - Alberta’s expertise, credibility and leverage in developing the partnerships required to successfully address the industry’s labour development issues. The Province of Alberta has recently announced several programs to address skilled labour shortages that will support the OVOI priorities. For example: the 10-year strategy Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce, the commitment to improve high school completion rates, a streamlined immigration program, and support for new Labour Market Information tools to track supply and demand. Alberta and British Columbia have also signed the BC-Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), a comprehensive internal trade agreement that creates a market of 7.7 million people and Canada’s
second largest economy.

CHBA – Alberta’s challenge is to develop and take maximum advantage of opportunities provided through industry and government initiatives, to ensure a skilled workforce for the residential construction industry now and into the future.