The study focused on Alberta, the Canadian province most in need of foreign workers. According to its findings, employers in Alberta consider US-based workers to be ideal, because they already have similar training and experience to what is required in Canada. They also have a good command of English, understand North American work culture, and live nearby. American citizens and Permanent Residents may also enter Canada without a visitor visa.

Workers in industries such as construction and natural resources management are the most in-demand. The demand is high not only in Alberta, but Canada-wide. The provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia face large shortages in similar fields.

While bringing workers from the US to Canada is not always straightforward, the study pointed to Alberta as a leader in finding creative solutions for obtaining the talent it needs to ensure economic growth.

“Alberta’s Department of Apprenticeship and Industry Training has stepped in to provide its own evaluation of workers’ credentials and experience. The province has launched a recruitment campaign in the United States. Alberta employers are also targeting Canadian and American veterans of the armed forces,” said one part of the study.

It continued on to say that “Alberta’s experience with US worker recruitment provides a number of lessons for employers and policy-makers elsewhere in Canada.”