Note: The Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) in Alberta’s Bio-economy survey to assess the representation of and challenges faced by equity-deserving groups in Alberta’s bio-economy is now closed. Supporting the project’s broader labour market information efforts, this survey helped identify gaps and guide efforts to improve inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in the sector.
Alberta’s bio-economy is poised for remarkable growth, yet it’s grappling with a significant labour shortage that could hamper progress. To tackle this problem, it’s becoming increasingly important for companies to recruit job seekers from equity-deserving groups, especially when domestic university degree completions are forecasted to decline. Despite this need, implementing effective Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible (IDEA) policies is challenging in the sector, as 51% of employers operate with less than eight employees, and many lack dedicated HR teams.
BioTalent Canada will address this issue by supercharging diversity efforts in Alberta’s bio-economy. It will provide actionable tools and tactics tailored to companies’ IDEA stages and offer a concierge service to support diverse recruitment and retention. By tapping into the potential of equity-deserving groups, Canada’s bio-economy employers will be better positioned to increase global competitiveness and spark unparalleled creativity.
Helping bio-economy employers in Alberta tackle labour shortages through IDEA
BioTalent Canada’s research, IDEA resource library, and HR concierge services will improve Alberta’s bio-economy by enabling employers to:
- Increase understanding of workforce demographics as well as IDEA resources and recommendations available for them;
- Utilize actionable strategies and tools to attract diverse talent; and
- Build capacity to increase workforce participation of equity-deserving groups.
Research
To effectively curate an IDEA resource library, BioTalent Canada will work closely with our Alberta industry partners to conduct in-depth research involving several methods, including:
- A Labour Market Impact (LMI) survey, which will assess the representation of equity-deserving groups in Alberta’s bio-economy and identify key challenges to their entry into the sector.
- An environmental scan of existing IDEA resources.
To access all IDEA resources, please visit the Alberta IDEA Resource Library.
The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services. 
