Less than six months after announcing a $178-million incentive program it promised would create thousands of new jobs, Alberta's NDP government has scrapped the plan.

"In response to a great deal of feedback, we have decided not to proceed with the job-creation incentive program," Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous told a news conference Monday.

"Quite frankly, a lot of the feedback had indicated that the job creation incentive program, the way that it was intended, wasn't going to necessarily create the jobs that we intended it to do."

The two-year, $178-million program was introduced as part of the provincial budget in October.

At the time, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said the plan was being mocked by the province's business community.

"No one believes it will create one single job," Jean said.

Bilous said the government will now change direction and plans to introduce several new programs when it tables its spring budget on Thursday.

"I think you'll see that your government is moving in the right direction when it comes to jobs and the economy," he said. "Away from programs that you told us wouldn't get the results we were hoping for."

When it announced the incentive program last October, the government said it would help create 27,000 jobs by rewarding businesses that hire new employees.

The program, hailed at the time by Premier Rachel Notley, was to offer tax credits worth $89 million in the first year for businesses that create jobs.

New hiring was to be encouraged by refunding 10 per cent of each new employee's salary to a maximum salary of $5,000.

Bilous also announced Monday that $10 million in new funding will be provided to the business incubators Innovate Calgary and TEC Edmonton.