Three Edmonton employers rank best in Canada for young people | Daily Hive

Three Edmonton companies named among Canada's top employers for young people

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If you’re a young person in Edmonton looking for work, three local companies have landed on a list of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

Mediacorp released its annual rankings on Tuesday, highlighting workplaces that stand out for supporting people at the start of their careers. Winners are chosen by the editorial team behind Canada’s Top 100 Employers, based on programs and initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining younger employees.

These include benefits like tuition assistance, co-op and work-study programs, mentorship, and training incentives such as bonuses for completing trades or professional certifications.

Mediacorp says today’s young workers are entering the labour market amid economic uncertainty, rising costs, and widely reported gaps in workplace readiness. As a result, this year’s employers are putting a greater focus on structured onboarding, confidence-building, and early-career support.

“Post-pandemic, and having grown up in a largely virtual world, many young people have had fewer opportunities to develop informal communication skills and other workplace conventions,” said Cypress Weston, assistant editor at Mediacorp.

The publication added that mentorship programs and formal career coaching have become key parts of early-talent strategies, particularly as new graduates and entry-level employees adjust to professional environments.

For the second year in a row, Edmonton-based companies PCL Construction, AIMCo, and EPCOR earned spots on the list for a variety of reasons, including:

PCL Construction

PCL Construction was again named one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for its focus on supporting early-career employees. Through the PCL Student Program, students get ongoing feedback from both a supervisor and an assigned buddy, while gaining hands-on experience and taking on meaningful work during their four to 16-month term.

The company also offers intensive leadership programs, such as the Accelerated Superintendent Development Program and the Accelerated Estimating and Construction Risk Management Program, which help early-career employees build technical expertise, identify leadership strengths, and develop mentoring relationships.

New grads are supported through a six-month onboarding program with regular check-ins and opportunities to connect with peers and senior leaders, and junior employees can take part in an interest-free payroll deduction plan that allows them to become employee-owners through the company’s share program.

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AIMCo

Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) was named one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for its programs that support early-career employees. Its 30-month CPA rotational program gives young professionals hands-on experience across different areas of the business while helping them meet CPA requirements and connect with senior mentors.

AIMCo also offers student loan assistance for employees with degrees related to their roles, providing up to $12,000 over three years. Students and new grads can build connections through programs like the AIMCo Ambassador program, job shadowing, and lunch-and-learn sessions with different teams.

EPCOR

Epcor was named one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for its focus on helping early-career employees grow. The company offers job rotation programs, formal mentorship, and access to more than 200 internal courses to build technical and interpersonal skills.

Epcor also supports new and emerging leaders through its RISE employee resource group, which provides learning resources, networking events, and speaker sessions. Apprentices at Epcor get coordinated post-secondary education through NAIT, hands-on field training, and practical guides to help them earn their journeyperson tickets.