Atlantic Canada’s Green Potential: Jobs and Skills Toward Clean Growth

Across the globe, the decarbonization of economic activities is accelerating. Canada is working to keep pace, evidenced by ambitious targets and collaborative initiatives across the federal, regional and municipal governments, businesses and communities.

The transition to a green economy will affect every industry and many jobs. However, there is limited understanding and awareness of how this green shift will impact Atlantic Canadian businesses and workers. The unique makeup of the region’s economy, workforce, and clean growth opportunities further complicate this challenge. Adopting sustainable practices and clean innovation in the ocean-based or blue economy drives jobs and skills in that sector. Without a good grasp of what a green or ‘sustainable blue’ job means in the Atlantic Canadian context, the region is in danger of missing significant opportunities to access programming, resources, and investment.

In partnership with econext and the Maritimes Energy Association (MEA), we investigated the green job potential in Atlantic Canada. We consulted over 50 organizations representing employers, governments, economic development groups and academia to identify:

• trends and perspectives on greening,
• critical and emerging green jobs and skills within key sectors in the region, including natural resources, marine, alternative energy, manufacturing, waste management, and other green services and technologies—e., climate change and adaptation, green building, cleantech, bioeconomy, and water and wastewater management, and
• workforce initiatives that could benefit the entire region.

Join us to learn about our findings first-hand through a 60-minute webinar. This presentation will benefit current workers, job seekers, employers, governments, and academia.