Oil and gas companies skip Alberta's largest career fair
For the first time ever, not a single oil and gas company was hiring at the Alberta Employment and Career Fair, the largest such event in the province.
Terry Kuhn went to the job fair Friday with hope it might give him the breakthrough he's been looking for to land a job.
"I wanted to broaden my search, and that's why I came here today. But it just isn't enough in my field."
Kuhn, a journeyman electrician, lost his job about a month ago. He had hoped to make contact with oil and gas companies hiring tradespeople, but times are so tough in the oilpatch that none of them were even there.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says that 35,000 oilpatch jobs have been lost this year alone.
Kuhn said many businesses they rely on the oilpatch are also struggling, meaning jobs are few are far between.
In a normal year, job seekers can expect to see about 175 employers set up at the career fair. But this year, given the slumping Alberta economy and plunging oil prices, that number has dropped to about 100.
"You know, until the price of oil goes up and until it's a value for business in the oil and gas to keep hiring, it's not of value right now because there's less work," said Jacqueline Wallis, a career services specialist with Alberta Works. "So it doesn't pay for them to be here to do any recruiting."
Alberta Works, a department within Human Services, is hosting the fair, which is in its 19th year.
Wallis said the fair is still a good place to make contacts, learn job hunting tips or talk to other employers who are hiring.
The forestry industry, retail stores and restaurants are hiring, she said.
"And there are some companies in construction, engineering, and of course the city of Edmonton. So you've got your non-profits, your governments, they're here and they're hiring."
Merit Contractors Association had a booth at the fair. Merit represents 1,400 companies, and some of them are looking for workers.
Matthew Trodden, Merit's educational initiatives co-ordinator, says there are still jobs in construction, fuelled by Edmonton's growth downtown.
"It's a little hotter right now, especially here locally in Edmonton. I mean, we've got a number of condominiums going up, a number of towers going up, and so a lot of our local members are staying busy."
But Trodden admits it remains a tough climate in Alberta at the moment, and says some of the companies Merit represents have also seen layoffs.
With oil prices expected to remain low for the rest the year, ATB Financial is forecasting that Alberta's economy will fall into recession this year.
ATB says the drop in oil price is the "single reason" for the economic challenges, as prices have fallen to about $45 US a barrel, down from more than $100 in the summer of 2014.
ATB predicts the unemployment rate will rise to 5.9 per cent this year, up from 4.7 per cent last year.
Terry Kuhn hopes the economy soon turns around.
"I thought having a ticket and being a skilled tradesperson would get me a little bit more notice, and get me out there. But it has been tough digging and looking for work."
The job fair continues Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Edmonton EXPO Centre on the Northlands grounds.
Despite of the lack of opportunities in the oil and gas sector, organizers expect as many as 10,000 people will attend over the two days.
