SuppliedJoseph Marchand, a professor in the department of economics at the University of Alberta, recently became the director of the Alberta Centre of Labour Market Research (ACLMR).
According to its website, which launched on September 3, the ACLMR aims to provide Canadians with “unbiased, high-quality labour market information and research.”
ACLMR was established after the U of A was awarded a grant from the Government of Canada. The project has been in development since March 2023, when Marchand’s proposal was first sent to the federal government.
The ACLMR expands on an initiative proposed by Marchand in 2019 and made official in 2020. The project, “Welmart,” is focused on organizing labour market researchers within the U of A. Welmart is an acronym for “work, employment, and labour markets in the faculty of arts,” Marchand said.
After having conducted substantial research on labour markets, Marchand said he decided it was time to make the research province-wide.
Other institutions, such as the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge, are also involved in ACLMR. Both universities were major contributors in the establishment of the research, according to Marchand.
ACLMR is primarily focused on Albertans and Canadians, Marchand says
The program is designed to facilitate and expand Albertans’ knowledge of the labour market. This is emphasized by the ACLMR’s close relationship with the provincial government and the utilization of media and other channels of communication to enhance public awareness on the topic, Marchand said.
“[However, this is] definitely not to build a limitation on our research. The research is worldwide,” Marchand said.
Furthermore, Marchand seeks to have more studies done on international affairs in the second-year of the project. He plans to start research abroad in 2025.
This research will focus on how international questions can be applied to similar situations in Alberta, Marchand said. It will provide a multi-dimensional explanation as to why issues in different countries affect not only Canada, but Alberta itself.
ACLMR provides graduate students with research opportunities
According to Marchand, the ACLMR has provided many graduate students opportunities to participate in research and studies within the area of the labour market and hiring trends.
“[When the] launch event started, the first hour was actually just dedicated to the graduate students that are involved and their research posters. Highlighting the next generation of [new researchers],” Marchand said.
The centre, in affiliation with the U of A, currently has five graduate students participating and conducting research. They also engage in student-based initiatives across the province.
Additionally, Marchand noted that any student or staff member is welcome to pose questions about the project on the ACLMR website.
“I’m already amazed by the website. [It launched] only [two weeks] ago and I’m already amazed at the uptake of people that are posing questions to us,” Marchand said.
