Calgary jobs returning but for many it means less pay, changing careers

Economists have started using the word recovery when talking about Alberta's economy, but what that recovery will look like over the long term isn't entirely clear.

Business news seems to be good forCalgary and most of Alberta; the price of oil has climbed back to more than$60 US per barrelandCalgary has surged back into the top 10 cities in terms of growth.

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Stats Canada says Alberta recorded 26,000 new jobs in December, and a report from BMO Capital Markets says Alberta had its single best quarter for job gains of all time in 2017.

But what does the road ahead look like for Calgarians still on the job hunt, and how is this good news actually affecting Albertans?

For some, economic recovery looks a lot like a career change. And for others, it looks a lot like doing the same job for less pay.

CBC's Alberta@Noon asked callers to share their stories.

'It made a massive impact on the bottom line'

Anu Reddysaid she took a course aimed at developingjob-hunting skillslike resume building and networkingto help her breakinto the job market after being laid off.

"I was off for close to year and a half," saidReddy,who was working in Calgary's business development field for the better part of a decade before losing her job.

Reddy says attending the course torefresh skills that "seem basic" was crucial to finding a new job.

Now she's employed but says getting back into her field meant taking a pay cut, leading to some lifestyle changes because of the decrease in pay.

"It made a massive impact on the bottom line," she said, adding she'scut back on spending on entertainment, phone bills and reduced her overall expenses.

"The priority is to make sure you pay your mortgage and then everything else is kind of on the wayside, so [robbing] Peter to pay Paul sort of situation."

'People arefindingwork through the network'

Shelley Alexander found herself laid off last September after going on maternity leave.

Alexander says she saw the layoff coming and startednetworking online, declaring she was "open for business."

Within a few days, Alexander says, she was contacted on LinkedInby a company she recognized. A little investigation revealedtwo of her network contacts had recommended her to the company, which then reached out on the social networking site.

"Because of that, I started work with a new company, all through LinkedIn and my network," Alexander said.

Like Reddy, Alexander says she took a pay cut when starting at her new job. But because she is also taking some university courses, she hasn't felt the sting of the pay cut becausefull-time work is"not a priority at this time."

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JanetSalopek, founder and president of human resources consulting firmSalopek&Associates, says marketing yourself through a peer or online network is vital toAlbertansstill on thejob hunt.

"We're finding that a lot of people are finding work through the network," Salopek said. "Call in your favours, contact people and you'll be amazed."

'I don't think it's ever coming back'

While there are some success stories coming out of Alberta, not everyone is feeling the economic bounce back as quickly as others.

For CalgarianRobBruce, recovery might look like changingcareers.

With decades ofexperience under his beltworking in engineering consulting as a draftsman, Brucewas laid off more than two years ago and is still trying to find work.

"My plan is to probably get out of consulting engineering," he said."I'm in the later stages, 25 yearsexperiencein the industryandI haven't been getting any call backs to any resumes I've been sending out.

Bruce says his industry has "prettymuch disappeared" in Alberta, so he has been working with a career consultant to change fields.

"I don think it's ever coming back, myself," Bruce said of engineering consulting in Alberta, adding that he believes outsourcing engineering jobs is to blame for the state of the industry.

Frances Donald, a senior economist with Manulife Asset Management, saysincreased job numbers in Calgary last year gave the citya much needed economic boost, but not all industries have seen positive gains.

"It's primarily private sector jobs. It's split between goods and services activity," Donald said."This is a pretty significant improvement in a part of the economy that was very weak for a number of years."

Salopeksays manufacturing and fabrication industries inthe province are still facing hard times due to competition and thinningprofit margins.

"So we're seeing a lot of closures. We saw a lot of layoffs, and, yes, they're not bringing back people. And if they're bringing them back, they're bringing them back at significantly reduced wages."

With files from Alberta@Noon

Calgary: The Road Ahead is CBC Calgary's special focus on our city as it passes through the crucible of the downturn the challenges we faceand the possible solutions as we explore what kind of Calgary we want to create. Have an idea? Email us at calgarytheroadahead@cbc.ca