Alberta’s New Budget Includes $20M Skilled Trades Training Investment
March 28, 2025
Through their Budget 2025, if passed, Alberta’s government is investing $20 million in continuing funding for the Advanced Skills Centre at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), as part of a three-year total investment of $43 million for pre-construction planning and design. Once operational, the centre is expected to train an additional 4,200 apprentices per year, helping to meet Alberta’s growing demand for skilled workers.
The new facility will add 640,000 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space to NAIT’s main campus. The Advanced Skills Centre will deliver comprehensive, leading-edge apprenticeship and technology-based education to help meet the needs of industry by targeting four key sectors: construction, transportation, manufacturing and energy.
The Advanced Skills Centre is now in the planning and design phase and is anticipated to be fully operational by 2029. As part of the centre, NAIT has proposed a 10,000-square-foot space for trades and technology skills exploration, which will serve as a hub for K-12 partners, community groups and industry to receive hands-on training opportunities.
Quick facts
- The investment of $20 million for pre-construction planning and design of the Advanced Skills Centre is part of a three-year total investment of $43 million, first announced in 2024.
- The yearly funding breakdown from Alberta’s government is as follows:
- $2 million in 2024-25
- $20 million in 2025-26
- $21 million in 2026-27
- Through Budget 2025, if passed, Alberta is also investing an additional $78 million per year over three years for seats in apprenticeship programs at 11 post-secondary institutions across the province.
- Each year, 30,000 to 40,000 students are enrolled in programs across NAIT’s campuses.
- Of those students studying in full-time programs, more than 30 per cent are enrolled in apprenticeship and skilled trades programs.
- Demand for seats and apprenticeship registration has increased over the last three years and is expected to continue rising due to Alberta’s growing economy and vacancies created by retirees.
- As of February 2025, there were more than 73,000 registered apprentices in Alberta, representing an increase of 19 per cent compared to last year.
