A New Map for Great Careers in Canada’s Green Economy

by Angie Knowles

Turn on the news or open the papers, and one is bound to come across a reference to the greening economy in Canada. This transition is about more than just economic growth or environmental protection. With more businesses incorporating environmental practices into their day-to-day activities, the shift to a greener economy means that the actual quality of many available jobs has improved.

A perfect example of this can be seen in the high rates of professional engagement and motivation amongst green workers. Compared to 64% of the general Canadian workforce, 78% of environmental employees felt engaged in their work according to ECO Canada’s 2011 Professional Engagement report. This meant that these workers were more likely to go above and beyond their job’s requirements, feel that their contribution was valued, and recommend their company as a great place to work.

The Green Jobs Map helps address some of the misinformation and lack of information on available jobs and required skills for work in Canada’s green economy.

There is also a strong, growing demand for green workers. Over the span of just three years, the number of organizations in Canada who had environmental professionals on staff jumped from 105,221 in 2007 to 318,000 in 2010 (2010 Profile of Canadian Environmental Employment, ECO Canada).

Clearly, job seekers who have their sights set on a green career don’t have to choose between a job that is in high-demand or a job that is deeply rewarding – they can have both. Thus, the real challenge for career counselling professionals is not so much about convincing their clients of the value of green jobs as it is about providing up-to-date insight on green employment trends. Green careers offer numerous opportunities, but since these jobs are part of highly dynamic and constantly changing industries, more information is needed on the types of jobs available and the skills that professionals require in order to be employable in these positions.

The Green Jobs Map: Tracking Employment through Canada’s Green Economy was designed to meet this need for clear and practical guidance on green jobs in Canada. This study addresses three crucial career planning questions regarding green employment: where are the most job openings, what education and experience are required, and which skills are in the highest demand?

Where are the most job openings?

In the report, researchers conducted a detailed analysis of job vacancies that were linked to eleven contributing sectors in Canada’s green economy. The results of this analysis came as a surprise. Contrary to a lot of the existing literature on projected green employment, sectors such as green manufacturing or carbon and climate change mitigation only accounted for a small percentage of new green job vacancies. Instead, established sectors such as environmental protection and resource conservation actually represented the lion’s share of green job postings. Environmental protection had 37% of green job listings and resource conservation had 21%. Renewable/Green Energy completed this list of the top three hiring sectors, with 11% of recent green job openings.

What education and experience are required?

High levels of education and experience were paramount for work in the Canadian green economy. Only 2% of the green job postings mentioned a requirement for a high school diploma or less, while a hefty 78% of these jobs required at least a Bachelor’s degree. Many employers were also looking for significant levels of experience in job candidates, with 44% of job openings listing a requirement for 5 to10 years of relevant work experience.

Job seekers who have their sights set on a green career don’t have to choose between a job that is in high-demand or one that is personally rewarding – they can have both.

Which skills are in the highest demand?

If there is just one major take-away point from The Green Jobs Map, it is the fact that employers are really looking for professionals who can integrate environmental knowledge into business planning and development. The study found that 32% of green job postings requested competency in corporate environmental program planning and implementation, while 31% of these same job ads also mentioned a need for proficiency in environmental business, technology and product development. In order to be marketable to today’s green employers, job seekers clearly need to demonstrate their ability to bridge the gap between environmental expertise and business savvy.

As Canada’s green economy continues to transform the way that many companies now operate, the need for skilled professionals who can support this transition will be greater than ever. Armed with new information on the latest green labour market trends, career counsellors can help ensure that great professionals are matched with great careers in a field as exciting and dynamic as the environment.

Angie Knowles is with ECO Canada, a not-for-profit organization that supports Canada’s environment industries by communicating with industry leaders, conducting labour market research and creating the necessary tools to address the human resource needs of this dynamic sector. Learn more about ECO Canada’s national research at eco.ca.

Interested in knowing more about green jobs? Check out the Emerging Green Jobs in Canada report, a project partnership between CERIC and the Green Skills Network. This report provides career counsellors with information regarding entry-level employment opportunities in the renewable energy and energy conservation sectors of Canada’s emerging green economy.