Labour Mobility

Labour mobility refers to the freedom of workers to practice their occupation wherever opportunities exist in Canada. Sometimes, people, particularly those in regulated occupations and trades, face difficulties having their qualifications recognized when they move across provincial or territorial boundaries.

To address this important challenge, all governments signed the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) to make it easier for people, goods, and services to move across Canada. Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility Chapter) of the AIT is specifically devoted to the removal of barriers to worker mobility.

What does the Labour Mobility Chapter require?

The Labour Mobility Chapter states that governments and regulatory bodies are responsible for:

• Ensuring residency requirements are not a condition for licensure or certification;
• Recognizing a persons skills, knowledge and ability to do the work;
• Accommodating differences in occupational standards; and
• Reconciling differences in occupational standards, where possible.

Who is the Labour Mobility Coordinator?

The Labour Mobility Coordinator works with professional regulatory bodies and trades to remove barriers that restrict the movement of qualified workers into Alberta. The Coordinator also works with other provinces and territories to ensure that they do not have barriers that would prevent qualified Albertans from seeking employment opportunities elsewhere in Canada.

Are you having difficulty having your qualifications recognized in another Province or Territory?

People who feel that their qualifications are not being adequately recognized in another province or territory can contact the Labour Mobility Unit for assistance.