Canada’s attempt to transition to a “net-zero” economy is transforming the nature of work in the skilled trades, a new report observes, with demand for certain roles across sectors rising sharply.
The country’s training and apprenticeship systems are not equipped to meet this surge in need, however, and workforce shortages could limit the country’s ability to achieve its 2050 climate goals.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum commissioned Prism Economics and Analysis to assess the impact of decarbonization on apprenticeship and labour needs.
Using Prism’s CANTRAQ model, the project analyzed 26 trades and related occupations under different scenarios.
The result? Canada will need to train and certify more than 264,000 apprentices by 2034, which would be a 49% increase over current levels.
“Canada’s transition toward a low-carbon, net-zero economy is reshaping the country’s labour market and placing unprecedented pressure on the skilled trades system,” reads the report, titled “The Demand for Green Skills and the Impact on the Supply and Demand for Apprentices and Certified Journeypersons in the Canadian Economy.”
“The federal government has introduced ambitious industrial and climate policies,” the report notes, which are “driving rapid growth in renewable energy projects, clean technologies, and building retrofits.”
In response, the “need to align Canada’s apprenticeship and training systems with emerging green-economy demands has never been more urgent.”
As the green economy expands, “decarbonization initiatives and new technologies are altering the skill requirements across sectors such as transportation, energy, manufacturing, and construction,” according to the report published by Future Skills Centre. “As electrification accelerates and clean energy infrastructure expands, pressure on the apprenticeship pipeline is expected to grow rapidly.”
Under the baseline scenario, Canada will need to train and certify over 177,000 apprentices between 2025 and 2034 across 26 trades.
Meeting future demand will “require expanding opportunities for current tradespeople to upskill and for workers in adjacent occupations to reskill into green trades,” the report suggests.
Noting how “current apprenticeship systems were not designed for the pace and scale of the green transition,” the report states that “addressing this challenge requires aligning policy, planning, and funding across government and industry.”
Education and training systems “must adapt quickly to keep pace with technological change.” Expanding micro-credentials and upskilling can help existing workers transition more efficiently, while partnerships between training institutions and employers can ensure program content reflects evolving industry needs,” the report offers.