Alberta Construction Association Calls for Workforce and Infrastructure Certainty in Budget 2026

As the Government of Alberta prepares Budget 2026, the Alberta Construction Association (ACA) is urging targeted investments to strengthen the construction workforce, provide capital-planning certainty, and ensure procurement practices support regional participation and project delivery.

Alberta’s construction industry is under growing pressure from record population growth, with more than 202,000 new residents in 2023, and rising demand for housing, health, education, municipal infrastructure, and nationally significant projects. BuildForce Canada forecasts that Alberta will need approximately 59,000 additional construction workers over the next decade, including replacing more than 43,000 retirements, leaving a potential shortfall of over 15,000 skilled workers without intervention.

“Budget 2026 is a critical opportunity to ensure Alberta has the skilled workforce and planning certainty needed to deliver essential infrastructure,” said Jen Hancock, Chair of the Alberta Construction Association. “Sustained investment in training, predictable capital planning, and fair procurement practices will help keep projects on track and support long-term economic growth.”

ACA’s recommendations for Budget 2026 focus on three key priorities:

• Strengthening workforce capacity through predictable, multi-year apprenticeship funding, expanded training facilities, and programs that accelerate entry into the skilled trades.
• Capital investment certainty to support workforce planning, apprenticeship hiring, and infrastructure renewal across the province.
• Procurement and regional participation reforms that promote fair risk allocation, consistent practices across ministries, and increased opportunities for small and medium-sized contractors.

The Alberta Construction Association represents more than 3,000 construction employers across Alberta’s industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors and stands ready to work with the Government of Alberta to ensure Budget 2026 supports a resilient, competitive, and future-ready construction industry.

You can read our letter to government here.