Before Suncor Energy Ltd. announced a $20.6-billion expansion to its oil sands project in northern Alberta, it had already started scoping out its future construction labor force. Predicting a peak need of 7,800 workers in 2009/2010, Suncor had to start looking early because in Alberta, jobs far outweigh qualified workers. The major North American energy producer is already in negotiations with Edmonton-based contractor PCL Constructors Ltd. for a number of different tradespeople.
Many companies aim to hire locally first. Failing that, they expand searches regionally then nationally. If still unsuccessful, some look outside Canada to bring in qualified workers under the temporary foreign worker program.