Go Back to Focus on Talent

Hello Alberta Innovation Community,

Technology Alberta launched our newest program, TechBOOST (Technology Business Optimization, Operations, Scaleup, and Talent), earlier this year. Geared towards Alberta tech SMBs that are looking to scale-up their operations by expanding their team, this new program encompasses both our highly-acclaimed FIRST Jobs Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program, as well our latest offering to Alberta tech SMBs: HRCatalyst.

The HRCatalyst program is designed as a modern approach to building in-house HR capacity for entrepreneurial tech companies without hiring dedicated HR staff immediately. As part of the application, we asked companies to select their top three HR challenges in order of priority. So what are the biggest HR challenges for Alberta tech SMBs?

As seen in the figure below, Alberta Tech companies identified their top 3 HR challenges as follows:

  • 45% affording quality candidates 
  • 22% attracting quality candidates
  • 12% selecting the right candidate

These results are consistent with data shared in previous Focus on Talent articles that discussed the difficulty companies face when competing with larger companies that can offer higher salaries and more comprehensive benefits. Also when every dollar counts as you build your business, selecting the right candidate at the right time can feel like a monumental task.
By working with Alberta’s innovative tech companies since 2006, Technology Alberta is aware of these needs – and have annually been checking in with the companies to understand current issues. Through this knowledge, and the support of Alberta Innovates, Government of Alberta Jobs Economy and Trade, and PrairiesCan, TechBOOST was developed to assist companies in building out their HR capabilities/capacity, and thereby improve their hiring outcomes, while at the same time de-risk their hiring through a subsidized employee work term that allows them to determine if the junior candidate is the right fit for their company. The TechBOOST program is currently open for both employers and student job-seekers – see here or information below for further information.
-Technology Alberta’s Talent Team
Building Community and Supporting Entrepreneurs in Building their Companies.

Go Back to Focus on Talent