STEP employs 12,650 Albertans

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From May 1 to August 31, this summer will see 4,285 Albertans employed in the Edmonton region under the 1986 Student Temporary Employment Program, (STEP), Alberta Manpower Minister Rick Orman announced yesterday.

"This year there is a total of 12,650 Albertans who will benefit from STEP throughout the province said the Minister.

The provincial government's commitment of $31.4 million to STEP enables employers to receive wage subsidies for jobs created this summer. The funding for this student summer job creation effort represents one of the largest provincial contributions

in the country. In the Edmonton region, the funding allocation for STEP projects is more than 11,545,185.

Under the program, positions are offered through four elements: Community Employment, Career Opportunity, Provincial Government Department and Summer Farm Employment.

Eligible employers under the Community Employment Element include non-profit organizations, hospitals and health units, municipalities, Indian Bands, Chambers of Commerce, Metis settlements, school boards and agricultural societies. In the Edmonton region, organizations are providing some 2,433 jobs to Albertans under this element.

In the Career Opportunity Element of STEP, post secondary institution and employers in such disciplines as veterinary medicine and recreation will provide 548 Albertans with work closely related to their field of study, and government department under the Provincial Government Department Element. Across the province, Alberta farmers are giving work experience to some 900 young people under the Summer Farm Element.

"One of the most important thing that STEP offers is the chance for many young Albertans to get a start in a working environment," said the Minister in his statement, "Those with minimal job experience need that crucial orientation into the labour market."

STEP falls under Challenge '86 Alberta, a provincial-federal co-operative initiative to create summer employment in Alberta. Another program in Challenge '86 Alberta is the Summer Employment/Experience Development (SEED) program.