In a study on green jobs, the Future Skills Centre, a research body, found a growing importance of sustainability.
Global trends towards green economies show the demand for green skills is still low, with only 1.15 percent of job postings in 2023 requiring them. However, green skills are in high demand in some industries, with up to 16 percent of advertised jobs in key sectors like mining and utilities requiring them.
On June 20, 2024, Bill C-50, the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, received Royal Assent. “This legislation will foster the creation of sustainable jobs, support industries and communities in every region across Canada, and help the workforce gain the necessary skills, training and tools to fill these new job opportunities,” according to a government release.
“Canadian workers and industries are seizing economic opportunities as we build thriving low-carbon industries and more sustainable communities. Today, as the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act becomes law, we are strengthening accountability while ensuring workers have a seat at the table as Canada advances toward a prosperous net-zero future,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
Definition and examples of green skills
United Nations Industrial Development Organization defines green skills as “the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.”
Green skills include renewable energy expertise, waste management, and sustainable agriculture. The Future Skills Centre study said employers across Canada sought skills in wastewater processing, sustainable agriculture, and various forms of renewable energy, including solar power and wind power generation.
As one of the world’s largest per capita energy consumers, Canada has committed to producing 90 percent of its electricity from renewable and non-emitting resources by 2030. Therefore, the demand for skills in renewable energy will likely grow as Canada transitions to clean energy sources.
In 2023, Ontario had the highest number of job postings requiring green skills at 15,861. However, the Northwest Territories had the highest need for jobs requiring green skills at 2.16 percent. The critical sectors involved are energy, transportation, construction, manufacturing, etc.
The Environmental and Clean Technology Products Economic Account (ECTPEA) measures the production of goods and services that reduce environmental impacts’ contribution to the Canadian economy. Examples of clean technology goods and services include solar panels and designing and constructing energy-efficient buildings.
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Current demand and trends
Green in-demand skills are renewable energy, such as solar and wind technicians and energy efficiency experts, and sustainable construction, such as green building design and LEED certification.
According to the World Economic Forum, jobs that require green skills are in sectors ranging from healthcare to construction. The number of green talents in the workforce has grown almost 40% in the last seven years, and demand for green talent is already outstripping supply.
The report said the share of green talent in the workforce has increased by more than 38% since 2015, a finding by the LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report 2022.
“We expect to see millions of new jobs created globally in the next decade driven by new climate policies and commitments,” said LinkedIn chief executive Ryan Roslansky.
Workers at all levels of education are growing their green skills. But globally, the rate is faster among those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The LinkedIn report said that the share of green talent in this category grew at an average of 11% annually between 2015 and 2021, compared to 9% for other workers—key sectors demanding green skills: energy, transportation, construction, manufacturing, etc.
A Statistics Canada release estimated that 314,257 jobs were attributable to the environmental and clean technology products sector in 2021, up 6.5% from 2020. This sector accounted for 1.6% of all jobs in Canada in 2021. By comparison, total Canadian jobs increased 8.5% over the same period.
Education and skill development
Education is critical to filling these jobs. According to the Future Skills Centre study, most green jobs require post-secondary education credentials. Forty-four percent require a college diploma or certificate, and 38 percent require a bachelor’s degree. Post-secondary institutions must, therefore, prepare future graduates with the skills needed to transition to a green economy to meet the growing demand.
The study found that the green skills required by Vicinity Jobs postings are taught in 0.97 percent of college and 0.88 percent of university programs. These figures align with the job postings analysis, which shows that 1.15 percent of job postings require green skills.
Wastewater processing is the top green skill taught in colleges, while renewable energy is the top skill taught in universities.
Wastewater processing is the top area of green expertise needed in all jurisdictions except British Columbia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. Expertise in renewable energy is also in high demand across Canada but is often linked to solar power and energy conservation.
The study said collaboration between post-secondary institutions and employers would be beneficial. The former would play an important role in meeting industry demands, and the latter would learn from the institutions about skills that could benefit their industry in the future.
Economic impact
According to StatsCan, the value of Canada’s environmental and clean technology products sector increased from $67.8 billion in 2020 to $73.1 billion in 2021, accounting for 2.9% of Canada’s GDP.
The GDP shares of the three main provincial contributors to the environmental and clean technology products sector—Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia—have remained stable since 2007. In 2021, Ontario (34.5%) accounted for over one-third of the industry, while Quebec (29.8%) accounted for over one-quarter, and British Columbia (15.1%) accounted for one-seventh.
Other factors influencing the green sector are environmental regulations and compliance, consumer demand for sustainable products and practices, corporate responsibility, and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) trends.
According to StatsCan, the utility industry was the most significant industry group in employment, accounting for over one-fifth (65,656) of environmental and clean technology jobs in 2021. These jobs were mainly in the electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry group.
Future of green skills
The study collected the top ten green skills from online environmental and social sustainability job postings. The skills are in wastewater processing, renewable energy, solar power, ISO 14000, LEED, air quality, energy efficiency, wind power generation, green energy, and energy conservation. The LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report 2022 calls for action on upskilling and reskilling for green skills.
As the world continues to prioritize sustainability, the importance of green skills will only grow, making it imperative for job seekers and educators alike to focus on developing and acquiring these competencies.
On Bill C-50, Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, said, “Sustainability is a key part of our government’s work to fight climate change. Royal Assent for the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act is a great step in this journey. By equipping our workforce with programs like the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, we are making sure that workers are ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
As sustainability continues to be a global priority, Canada’s demand for green skills will rise. Policymakers and educational institutions must work together to meet the evolving needs of the green economy.
