OLDS — Several local businesses have been forced to let staff go as a result of the tight economy in Olds.
Olds & District Chamber of Commerce president Mark Johnson is aware of the cuts.
But he and Melissa Maschke of Key Employment Services say there are jobs to be had if people are willing to retrain and/or relocate and perhaps accept lower wages than they received in the oilpatch, for example.
“There seems to be jobs around; maybe not as many as people would like, or maybe as well-paying as people would like, but there seem to be jobs,” Johnson said.
“When I look online occasionally there seem to be things happening.
“Are there losses? Yes. Is it good? No, but I think we’re faring better probably than a lot of other municipalities in Alberta,” he added.
A quick look at a few websites shows there are dozens of jobs listed for Olds and area.
Johnson said unemployed residents may have to look at starting up their own businesses.
He cited the example of Robbin and Joy Corsiatto, founders of Boomer Movers which helps older people move into new places.
Maschke said she’s so busy assisting people who are trying to find employment that “in the foreseeable future, I am at capacity to provide employment services.”
“I am getting calls daily to help with job seekers,” she said.
On the other hand though, Maschke said Olds is luckier than some other Alberta communities because of its more diversified economy.
Johnson believes the worst of the recession in Olds may be over. He knows of a handful of new businesses that have opened up in the community.
However, Maschke is not so sure.
“In my opinion, it is way too early to forecast and there is too much uncertainty,” she said.
“Employers seem to be in a holding pattern, possibly well into 2020.”
“I believe we are fortunate to be in an area that has a variety of sectors: agriculture, retail, oil and gas, manufacturing,” she added.
“I work further north into Rocky Mountain House and Drayton Valley where the employment outlook seems to be significantly bleaker.”
However, Maschke said students may have a tougher time finding jobs this summer because the STEP (the Student Temporary Employment Program) is not being funded by the provincial government this year.
B & M Home Hardware is one example of an Olds business that had to let staff go due to the economy.
Last summer, they shed 33 employees and the company is in the throes of being sold to Pro Builders Supply Ltd., which operates Home Hardware stores in Canmore and B.C.
At its height, Home Hardware in Olds employed approximately 75 people.
Store manager Tasha Bieber said the remaining 42 staff are all expected to be retained – including herself – once the sale goes through.
In fact, as of last week, the company was looking for another worker to design cabinets.
Bieber said the cuts were a direct result of the poor economy in the community.
I know everybody’s suffering,” she said.
“It’s been a tough year. It’s been a tough three years, actually. Even right now I know we’re struggling to keep up with last year and last year wasn’t screaming either.”
Bieber said although the economy was one factor in the sale, her dad, Bruce, was also looking to retire.
Late last year, the company celebrated 25 years in business in Olds.
“He wants to spend his winters golfing and doing all that good stuff,” she said. “And with the economy and things not doing so well, it’s hard to do all those things.
“It’s not as much fun as it used to be when you’re struggling, trying to come up with ideas to get people in the door.”
She blamed online shopping as a big factor.
“I understand the online shoppers. I get it – it’s convenient and stuff. But when you come in and you ask me for donations for your kids’ hockey teams and everything else, just remember who you’re supporting,” she said, adding she’s “pretty sure” Amazon, the worldwide online retailer, is not supporting local sports teams.
In an email, Mayor Michael Muzychka said the town is doing what it can to help on several fronts.
He said the town is actively working to lure new businesses to provide more jobs in the community and increase the non-residential assessment base.
“We are always looking at ways of diversifying our economy,” he wrote.
He listed marijuana processor Sundial Growers as an example of those efforts.
Muzychka noted that earlier, the town created an economic development secretariat and is working on creating a new business retention, attraction and expansion committee.
He said Larry Wright, the town’s strategy and technology officer, “is working on a number of leads that we can’t speak to at this moment.”
In addition, Muzychka noted council voted to keep its residential and non-residential tax rate at zero for this year.
Although times are tough, Muzycka said the town approved building permits for more than $30 million worth of construction projects last year.
The town issued permits for $31.4 million worth of work in 2018 and $26.9 in 2017.
