Nearly 900 attend Airdrie job fair amid higher youth unemployment

About 870 job seekers attended the Spring 2026 Airdrie Regional Job Fair at Genesis Place on March 11, with organizers saying roughly 51 employers registered to recruit at the event.

Jennifer Dost, Employer Services Manager with Prospect Human Services Society, said the event — organized in partnership with the Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce — brought together employers from sectors including food service, construction and labour.

“I believe we had 51 employers registered. We did have a wait list as well. And then there were 870 job seekers in attendance.”

Labour force data shows unemployment is significantly higher among younger workers.

Statistics from the Government of Alberta estimate that Alberta’s unemployment rate was 6.4 per cent in January 2026, compared with 6.5 per cent nationally. Men had an unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent, compared with 6.3 per cent for women.

The gap is wider among younger workers. The unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 was 14.1 per cent, compared with five per cent for those aged 25 to 54 and 5.8 per cent for workers aged 55 and older.

“There were a number of youth that come out and that demographic has been really hit hard. It's really challenging job market for everyone, but especially challenging job market for youth,” Dost said.

“They may not have as much experience as somebody else, but they can stand out just by showing up and by sharing a little bit about themselves.”

While many attendees were young people looking for work, Dost said Prospect has also noticed another trend at job fairs in recent years.

“Increasingly since probably 2020, we have been seeing an increasing number of seniors — people who were retired or close to retirement — who have decided to come back and supplement income.”

She said many of those returning older workers are often looking for part-time positions, though some are seeking full-time work.

Employers at the fair represented a mix of industries. Dost said restaurants and food-service businesses were well represented, alongside companies recruiting for construction and labour positions.

“There were a number of restaurants and food service organizations there, but there was also a strong labour presence for individuals looking for construction or labour jobs.”

Dost said some employers report receiving large numbers of applications for entry-level roles, which can make it difficult for job seekers to stand out.

Dost said job fairs allow applicants to explain their experience directly to employers.

For example, someone coming from a customer-service background may still have skills that apply to roles such as dispatching — including communication, teamwork and organization — but those connections are not always obvious on a résumé.

“Not everybody's good at doing a resume, and so the job fair really levels the playing field.”

Prospect also set up a five-minute résumé review station at the entrance staffed by career advisors and provided a printer for attendees who needed additional copies of their résumés.

Dost said turnout at the March event appeared to be significantly higher than at the previous job fair Prospect organized in the fall, adding that youth turnout in particular seemed higher this time.

“I believe it was almost double the job fair that we had in the fall.”

Some conversations she had with attendees highlighted how determined many people were to find work.

Dost said one couple told her they had walked from Balzac to attend the event.

“There's a sense of desperation for a lot of people, and they want to work.”

She added that job searches also appear to be taking longer than in the past, based on conversations with job seekers and employers.

She also credited the Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce for its role in organizing the event.

“This was done fully in partnership with the Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce, and they've been a wonderful support for Prospect through the years and for job seekers in the region.”

Another hiring event is scheduled in Calgary later this week.

The Spring 2026 Calgary Job Fair Celebrating Inclusion will take place March 17 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the BMO Centre’s Palomino Room, hosted with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers say the event will bring together employers and job seekers for face-to-face recruitment across a range of industries.

Employers scheduled to attend include organizations such as Air Canada, RBC, Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department, ATCO Energy, Rocky View Schools, Correctional Service of Canada and the City of Calgary’s 911 centre, along with private-sector companies and community organizations.

The event will also feature service providers offering employment supports and training resources for job seekers, as hiring events continue to draw strong turnout amid a competitive labour market.