Canada remains committed as a country to strong net zero and climate initiatives. What skills do today’s students need to develop for the eco-friendly workplaces of the future?
Canada has ambitious goals for adapting its workplaces and industries to meet Net Zero and other climate-friendly goals. Even as the U.S. walks back many of its climate commitments with the change in administration, Canada is standing fast. Indeed, Canada’s newest prime minister, Mark Carney, brings substantial climate advocacy experience to the table. He connects the financial sector to climate initiatives, ensuring that at a national policy level, the demand for workers who can thrive within sustainability and green frameworks is going to continue.
Yet, within those frameworks, what skills are truly needed? It’s not enough to simply be a fan of Mother Earth. Today’s students need practical green skills to thrive in tomorrow’s economic realities. Here, the top three green skills in demand will be reviewed along with the efforts Canada’s post-secondary institutions are making to ensure students come to the market with the skills employers want.
The top three green skills employers want to see
Many of the green skills employers want to see in the future are related to the more technical side of making the green revolution a reality. This includes skills with an engineering or architectural base, advanced financial accounting skills, and environmental law expertise.
On the environmental law front, employers are looking for workers who understand regulations and public policy. Successful businesses will need to be able to grasp the rules and policies, translate them into operational best practices, and monitor their implementation. Employers will thus prize workers who can follow detailed written and legal documents and convert those texts into understandable instructions and workplace insights.
The financial side of things is also important. Carbon accounting, impact assessments, and sustainability reporting are some of the fastest-growing green skills demanded across North America and Europe today. That’s only going to continue as blockchain technologies are more widely adopted by financial institutions, challenging accountants and financial offices to adapt to the very cutting edge of financialization as they seek to track spending, trading, and investment returns on climate projects.
Last but not least are the technical design skills. Green building design skills are in high demand, as is advanced knowledge of how to integrate sustainable materials into traditional structures. The engineering of solar and wind farms, water treatment at desalination sites and greywater reclamation plants, and public transit systems all require practical, technical skills from workers. Employers will be eager to hire anyone they can find with these advanced skills!
Key sectors demanding green skill workers
Students who acquire the top green skills in demand will find themselves spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding where to work. Some of Canada’s most important industries and companies are firmly based in environmental fields. Indeed, LinkedIn reports that candidates with green skills are 54 percent more likely to be hired than other prospects.
Where is the demand the hottest? Canada’s energy sector is a massive employer of green skill workers, but it is hardly the only industry clamoring for eco-friendly workers. Some 20 percent of all construction industry postings require green skills, and just between 2023 and 2024, there was a 60 percent surge in demand for green skilled workers in the tech sector.
Even sectors not normally associated with the climate industry have a demand for green skills. Food and beverage companies, for example, need workers who can help with sustainable sourcing, calculating the carbon impact of menus and food choices, and designing restaurants and production sites that are sustainable and eco-friendly. There are very few fields in Canada that won’t have at least some connection to the climate or Net Zero in the years ahead, especially if students are willing to look one or two steps up the supply chain for their chosen niche.
What Canadian schools are doing to prepare tomorrow’s eco-skilled workforce
Recognizing that tomorrow’s workers are going to need more green skills, especially if Canada is going to hit its Net Zero goals, Canadian post-secondary institutions are already springing into action. They are adapting their training programs to equip graduates for what’s needed now and what’s anticipated in the near future. This includes providing apprenticeship opportunities, specialized training tracks, and opportunities for students to see green skills embedded within their regular coursework modules.
For example, at Queen’s University, there is now an experiential learning team within the Smith School of Business focused on prepping students for the sustainability transition. Officially known as the Queen’s Venture Creation, Experiential Learning, and Net-Zero Training (QVENT) program, it will provide more than 2,000 students with hands-on work opportunities that blend policy matters with practical applications. Some students will even have the chance to earn an official certification in leading sustainable change.
Another initiative underway through the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCan) is linking Canada’s institutions to the broader international frameworks for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) standards. This multi-year project offers benchmarking and skills gap assessments so that schools nationwide can adapt coursework and redeploy resources to the most pressing needs for Canada’s sustainable future. As a result of this initiative, green education standards are being set and followed, helping raise the level of green skills for all students and not just those who are specializing in sustainability studies.
Will it be enough? There is hope. While not all students will ultimately pursue advanced specialization, the central role that climate consciousness and sustainability practices have within the Canadian business ecosystem means that no student will be truly future-ready without some understanding of the key tenets. By making investments now and giving all students at least some grounding in green skills before they graduate, Canadian post-secondary institutions are doing their part to ensure that tomorrow’s workforce is ready for what lies ahead.