The department was dissolved effective December 12, 1992 by means of Order in Council 749/92 under the authority of the Public Service Administrative Transfers Act, which transferred most of the functions and responsibilities of the Minister to the new Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development.

Functional responsibility:
The principal functional responsibilities of the department were the planning, development and implementation of policies and programs designed to meet the present and anticipated future manpower needs of the province.

The department was responsible for the administration of the following acts and all regulations under these acts:

Department of Manpower Act
Department of Career Development and Employment Act
Manpower Development Act
Apprenticeship Act
Apprenticeship, Training and Certification Act

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessor of the Department of Career Development and Employment was the Department of Advanced Education and Manpower, Manpower Services Division. The successor of the department was the Department of Advanced Education and Career Development. The immigration services functions of the department were transferred to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in 1992.

Administrative relationships:
The Department of Career Development and Employment reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Career Development and Employment. The Minister also passed to the Legislature the annual reports of a number of semi-independent agencies:

• Alberta Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Board (renamed Apprenticeship, Training and Certification Board in 1985 and Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board effective January 1, 1992)
• Manpower Advisory Council (until its dissolution in 1986)

Beginning in 1986, the department went through a series of frequent internal reorganizations. Program delivery units were re-structured almost annually. Significant department-wide reorganizations occurred in 1986, 1987 and 1990. The principal functions of the department were performed by the following units:

1. Administrative and department support functions: Central Support Services Division (1983-1986) and Finance and Administrative Services Division (1986-1992)
2. Planning and administration of apprenticeship and trades training and certification of journeymen: Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Branch (1983-1987) and Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Division (1990-1992)
3. Career planning and employment counselling services: Career Development Division (1983-1986) and Career Development Centres under the administration of the Field Services Division (1986-1992)
4. Employment preparation and training programs: Employment Development Division (1983-1986) and Career Development Centres under the administration of the Field Services Division (1986-1992)
5. Recruitment of skilled workers, services to immigrants, and resettlement services to Albertans: Occupational Services Branch (1983-1986), Manpower Mobility Branch (1983-1986) and Immigration and Settlement Division (1990-1992)
6. Labour market information, research and planning: Planning Secretariat (1983-1986), Manpower Information and Planning Division (1986), Labour Market Information and Planning Division (1986-1987), Labour Market Research Division (1987-1990) and Policy and Research Division (1990-1992)
7. Policy and program development: Employment Development Division (1983-1986), Training and Employment Services Division (1986-1987), Policy and Program Development Division (1987-1990) and Policy and Research Division (1990-1992)

Names of chief officers:
Ministers of Manpower/Career Development and Employment:
Ernie Isley (1982-1986)
Richard D. Orman (1986-1988)
Kenneth R. Kowalski (1988-1989)
Constance E. Osterman (1989)
Kenneth R. Kowalski (Acting) (1989)
Norman A. Weiss (1989-1992)

• providing career counselling services, including information, counselling, planning and testing services to assist individuals in making career choices
• providing employment placement and training services
• administration and operation of Alberta Career Development Centres
• identifying present and future workplace skills requirements
• recruiting from outside the province workers with skills identified as those in which the province's workforce is deficient
• providing employment, training, and settlement services to immigrants
• providing resettlement counselling services to Albertans
• providing skills training programs and coordinating private provision of skills training
• certifying individuals engaged in trades designated under Part 3 of the Manpower Development Act
• performing research on the Alberta labour market, composition of the province's workforce, and skills needs of the province's economy in support of planning and policy and program development
• creating and administering special manpower development programs and projects for the unemployed and individuals with special training needs
• creating information management systems to support apprenticeship training and tradesman certification programs
• performing strategic planning functions
• performing financial and other administrative support services

The records have been arranged into the following series:

1. Field Services Personnel committee and meeting records
2. Field Services Personnel fire procedures, first aid and grievance records
3. Vocational Training Branch committee records
4. Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Branch apprenticeship ledgers
5. Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division apprenticeship ledgers
6. College Programs Branch records
7. Field Services Division institutional records
8. Field Services Division Alberta Career Centre records
9. Field Services Division client case records
10. Training and Employment Services records
11. Career Development Centre records
12. Career Development Sector administrative records
13. Employment Counselling and Relocation Services records
14. Special Manpower Programs Branch records
15. Occupational Services Branch human rights records
16. Occupational Services Branch training and employment program records
17. Career Development Sector Summer Temporary Employment Program records
18. Deputy Minister's Office records
19. Manpower Services Division records
20. Career Development Sector operational records
21. Edmonton Career Centre records
22. Manpower Services Division Assistant Deputy Minister records
23. Career Development Sector task force and working group records
24. Employment Development Sector records
25. St. Paul Career Centre native band list
26. St. Paul Career Centre administrative records