Using employment agencies

Employment agencies are legally required to be licensed by Service Alberta, regardless of where they are located or the nature of the services they provide. Under the Fair Trading Act, all businesses are required to have an Employment Agency Business Licence, including employment or recruitment agencies.

An employment agency cannot directly or indirectly demand or charge a fee, reward or offer compensation to a person seeking employment or information about employers seeking employees, or for securing employment or information about any employer. To do so is illegal under the Alberta Employment Agency Business Licensing Regulation.

Employment agencies may charge a fee for services provided, relating to the preparation of a resumé, but the agency cannot require a person to purchase these services as a condition of the agency's job placement services. If the agency charges fees for a resumé, these must be clearly indicated and visible in their business premises and in the contract with their client.

If you have a complaint about an employment agency in Alberta, you can contact the Service Alberta Consumer Contact Centre at 780-427-4088 (Edmonton and area) or 1-877-427-4088 (toll-free in Alberta), or by email at service.alberta@gov.ab.ca.