As Alberta\u2019s industries face growing labour shortages, especially in skilled trades, one question is on every employer\u2019s mind: where will tomorrow\u2019s workforce come from?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nearly three decades, CAREERS: The Next Generation<\/strong> has been answering that question. As Alberta\u2019s leading youth workforce development organization, CAREERS connects high school students with paid internships and apprenticeship opportunities across the province\u2014helping young people discover their potential while supporting employers in building their teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One powerful example of this partnership is Fountain Tire<\/strong>, a long-standing supporter of CAREERS and a company that has embraced hiring young people as a way to secure its future talent pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPersonally, I’ve been working with CAREERS for over a decade,\u201d says Curtis Goodwin<\/strong>, Vice President of Stores for Fountain Tire in Alberta and Saskatchewan. \u201cWorking with CAREERS, hiring students has been extremely easy. From my perspective, they do all the heavy lifting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fountain Tire\u2019s success story is compelling – but it\u2019s just one of more than 11,000 Alberta businesses<\/strong> that have worked with CAREERS over the years to invest in youth, strengthen their workforce, and build a better future for Alberta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Proven Model That Works for Employers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CAREERS makes hiring students simple, efficient, and high-impact. Through prescreening and mandatory safety courses, CAREERS ensures that students are job-ready and aligned with each employer\u2019s needs – something that employers like Goodwin and his team deeply appreciate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey’ve only put the brightest and most respectful student candidates in front of me,\u201d says Goodwin. \u201cAnd if you just invest a little bit of time and energy, they pay you back with hard work and gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scott Kessler<\/strong>, owner of Fountain Tire\u2019s Northland and Bowness locations in Calgary, echoes that sentiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of the big advantages of CAREERS is that youth are prescreened, so you’re looking at applicable applicants right out of the gate,\u201d he says. \u201cWe are experiencing shortages like never before, and qualified applicants for trades, it seems, is on the decline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This kind of support is more important now than ever, especially for employers facing difficulties in recruitment and retention. CAREERS offers a reliable pathway to access emerging talent while shaping the next generation of skilled professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More Than a Job: A Launchpad for Future Careers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At its core, the CAREERS model isn\u2019t just about filling jobs. It\u2019s about giving young people a meaningful start – and giving businesses the opportunity to mentor, develop, and grow talent from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOften it\u2019s their first job,\u201d says Kessler. \u201cYou want to be patient. You want to be understanding. You want to give them the opportunity to show you where they can shine – and who knows, you could have a superstar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evan Morsette<\/strong>, Lead Technician at Fountain Tire Calgary Macleod, knows firsthand how this support can shape a career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFountain Tire really supports you all the way through your career\u2014starting as a first-year apprenticeship, getting into school, all the way to becoming a licensed technician.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n CAREERS creates a launchpad for students, offering them both confidence and credentials. For employers, it\u2019s a way to create a pipeline of trained, motivated workers who are already familiar with their workplace and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s Good for Business – and It Feels Good, Too<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the practical benefits, many employers find deep personal satisfaction in helping young people succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, there’s few things at this point in my life that give me more satisfaction than giving somebody an opportunity,\u201d says Goodwin. \u201cIt just feels good to give people a shot at something, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt gives me a lot of pride when I see somebody be successful and either move on from my store or move up through my store,\u201d adds Kessler. \u201cTo make a career out of what started as a simple high school job – that\u2019s something special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And with Alberta\u2019s skilled labour gap continuing to widen, more businesses are beginning to realize what Goodwin has known for years:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery Alberta business needs to be concerned about where their next workers are coming from. Partnering with a program like CAREERS just makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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