FAQ

While workforce pressures may change, the nonprofit sector continues to face challenges attracting and retaining skilled staff. An intentional effort is required by all stakeholders to address workforce issues so that our sector can meet the needs of our communities.

What is WorkforceConnect?

WorkforceConnect is a collaborative platform to address nonprofit sector workforce issues by engaging a broad range of stakeholders. WorkforceConnect is an initiative of the Alberta Nonprofit Workforce Council, a diverse group of nonprofit organizations and individuals who understand sector workforce issues and are committed to working collaboratively to find long term solutions. The Workforce Council:

• Coordinates the province-wide, cross-sectoral implementation of the Workforce Strategy for Alberta’s Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
• Convenes and facilitates connections between local, provincial and national workforce initiatives
• Develops relationships with other industry sectors that rely upon the work of the nonprofit sector

The Workforce Council supports the development of a high performance, sustainable workforce through WorkforceConnect: a forum for sharing information and resources to foster collaboration on common workforce issues.

What difference will WorkforceConnect make?

WorkforceConnect will help the nonprofit sector address workforce issues by:

• Linking the sector to meaningful information and resources, such as human resource training, recent research and other organizations undertaking workforce-related activities
• Connecting human resource professionals in the sector through an engine that helps them learn from one another
• Offering tools and resources to support organizations and communities that do not have human resources expertise on staff
• Providing an inspired, well-structured approach that holds the challenges and their solutions for workforce issues in the nonprofit sector

Collaboration creates better results. To date, the nonprofit sector in Alberta has undertaken largely uncoordinated activities, at times resulting in confusion and limited impact. We can leverage our resources working together, learning from one another and building solutions to our complex human resources challenges. 

How does WorkforceConnect operate?

WorkforceConnect is supported by three groups: Action Teams, the Alberta Nonprofit Workforce Council and the Secretariat, all oriented toward improving workforce outcomes in the nonprofit sector.

Small groups of action are the unit of change in our sector. There are several Action Teams responding to workforce-related challenges in the nonprofit sector, and more Action Teams are being recruited. The Workforce Council supports activity and communication between Action Teams, acting as a scanner in our environment to provide strategic direction, leverage ideas and offer a collaborative table for the sector’s efforts. The Secretariat provides administrative coordination that acts as a catalyst for the Workforce Council.