With a $3 million investment from the Government of Alberta, Calgary Economic Development has launched TalentED Greater Calgary, a work-based learning (WBL) initiative designed to help employers connect with job-ready youth aged 18-24 and strengthen Calgary’s future workforce.
Delivered in collaboration with local employers, the program aims to create 2,000 industry placements and projects for youth by 2027, helping organizations fill skills gaps while giving young people practical experiences to start and build their careers.
“The Calgary region’s growth presents a timely opportunity to connect employers with job-ready youth. TalentED Greater Calgary helps employers access the skills they need, while young job-seekers gain the experience and references that come with a first chance," said Deana Haley, Vice President, Intelligence and Productivity and Economic Developer In-Residence, at Calgary Economic Development.
"By turning first chances into proven talent, we boost productivity today and reinforce the workforce that sustains Calgary’s long-term economic prosperity."
Expanding access to work-based learning across the Calgary region
TalentED Greater Calgary builds on the success of TalentED YYC, a pilot project that generated an estimated $16 million in economic impact through work-integrated learning opportunities. This new program expands that model by focusing on work-based learning placements — short-term, applied experiences that are accessible to youth who are new to the workforce or navigating transitions between education and employment— across Calgary and the broader Calgary Metropolitan Region.
Calgary’s labour market remains relatively strong among major Canadian cities, with the highest participation rate in the country, and the second-highest job growth in 2025. At the same time, youth unemployment remains heightened, with younger talent facing increased competition for entry-level roles.
TalentED Greater Calgary responds to this challenge by streamlining how employers access emerging talent and help youth build the in-demand skills employers need.
Experience that strengthens Calgary’s talent pipeline
TalentED Greater Calgary is designed to lower time, cost and capacity barriers for small-and medium-sized businesses and nonprofits by helping employers turn real business needs into clearly scoped work-based learning opportunities.
“Through the TalentED YYC pilot, Pedesting was able to create internship roles that brought fresh ideas and new perspectives into our organization, ultimately leading us to offer one participant a full-time position," said Nabeel Ramji, CEO and Co-Founder of Pedesting.
"With TalentED Greater Calgary, more employers can benefit from giving someone their first chance while building the skilled, adaptable workforce our growing economy needs."
Research shows the value of this approach, with a recent Mitacs study finding organizations that participate in work-based learning saw, on average, a nine per cent increase in total revenue and an 11 per cent boost in productivity over three years after offering WBL opportunities.
Tangible support for employers and youth
Free services offered through TalentED Greater Calgary include:
One-on-one employer consultation to assess and design WBL opportunities, including guidance on available job-related funding and wage subsidy programs;
- Access to in-person and virtual AI training sessions, delivered by Skills for Change, to help employers integrate AI into everyday processes and enable youth to build relevant digital skills for the workplace; and
- An AI-enabled skills-matching WBL platform that connects employers and youth based on skills alignment rather than experience alone.
- For youth, TalentED Greater Calgary creates access to hands-on experiences, professional references and job-ready skills that improve employment outcomes and help convert first opportunities into lasting careers.
“Participating in the TalentED YYC program gave me hands-on experience that built my confidence, job experience and real skills that I could put on my résumé," said Rica Bandigas, participant of pilot program TalentED YYC.
"The experience was a key stepping stone to receiving my co-op designation and the opportunity to grow my network in Calgary. The new TalentED Greater Calgary program will open the same doors for other young job seekers like me.”
Preparing Calgary’s workforce for what’s next
As work continues to evolve, access to emerging skills — particularly in AI and digital tools – has become essential for productivity and employability. Skills for Change — an organization which recently received funding through Google Canada’s AI Opportunity Fund — is partnering with TalentED Greater Calgary to deliver training in these areas for both employers and youth.
“AI is fundamentally reshaping how work gets done, and TalentED Greater Calgary ensures the workforce is not left to catch up after the fact,” said Surranna Sandy, CEO of Skills for Change.
“By pairing real work-based learning with practical AI upskilling, the program builds a workforce that is adaptable, productive and ready for the economy of tomorrow, not five years from now.”
By strengthening workforce readiness and building local talent pipelines, TalentED Greater Calgary advances Uplook: An Action Plan for Calgary’s Economy — supporting inclusive growth, productivity and long‑term economic prosperity for the region.
Employers and youth interested in getting involved are invited to learn more or connect with the TalentED team directly at www.jointalented.com.