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ALBERTA
Creating Opportunity
February 17, 2009

Province creates more summer employment for Albertans

STEP funding increased to $9.1 million

Edmonton... Not-for-profit employers have more incentive to hire Albertans this summer, thanks to a $1.9 million increase to the government’s Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP). Last year’s STEP funding of $7.2 million has increased to $9.1 million this year.  

“This is an established long standing program. Given the economy we want to make sure that young people have every opportunity to find jobs,” said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment and Immigration. “This year’s increase will significantly improve job prospects for students and other Albertans.”

Each summer the provincial government program subsidizes wages paid by not-for-profit employers to encourage higher salaries for short-term summer employment opportunities for students and unemployed workers. The program offers employers a wage subsidy of $7 an hour.

More than 2,100 STEP positions will be available this summer - an increase of 450 positions over last year. &nbspSTEP provides students and other Albertans with unique learning opportunities and helps employers find enthusiastic employees with fresh ideas.

Employers must provide continuous, full-time employment between 30 to 40 hours per week up to a maximum of 16 weeks. Priority will be given to employers offering full-time employment for the longest duration between April 27 and August 28.

Eligible employers include registered not-for-profit community organizations, First Nations bands, Métis settlements, municipalities, regional health authorities, regional school divisions and post-secondary institutions. 

Employers who are interested in finding out more about the program or are interested in applying for STEP can call 780-422-5082 in Edmonton (dial 310-0000 for toll-free service within Alberta) or visit www.employment.alberta.ca/step. Applications must be postmarked on or before March 6, 2009 to be considered.

The STEP program started in 1972.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Dorothy Schreiber
Employment and Immigration
780-422-0380

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Visit the Government of Alberta newsroom newsroom.alberta.ca.

 

 

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