Strengthening Canada's Environmental Workforce
Sustainable Talent and Innovation Network
SUSTAIN is a national workforce development initiative led by ECO Canada, designed to help employers, workers, and partners navigate the rapid transformation of Canada’s environmental and clean economy.
Through labour market insights, workforce tools, training, and sector collaboration, SUSTAIN supports stronger talent attraction, workforce planning, and long-term capacity across Canada’s environmental sector.
Project Duration: November 21, 2025 to November 20, 2030
What Is SUSTAIN?
The Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada), together with key industry partners, will collaborate to address pressing national and systemic issues affecting the attraction, retention, and development of talent across Canada in the environmental sector. Delivered through a mix of virtual and in-person activities, the project will develop scalable strategies, tools, and resources to address workforce needs and skills gaps across industries, regions, and occupations.
Project Objectives
SUSTAIN supports a broad range of stakeholders across Canada’s environmental and sustainability ecosystem:
Employers seeking to attract, develop, and retain skilled talent
Workers and job seekers navigating environmental career pathways
Educators and training providers aligning programs with labour market needs
Industry associations and sector councils addressing shared workforce challenges
Equity-deserving groups seeking access to training, certification, and career mobility
What SUSTAIN Delivers
SUSTAIN provides practical, evidence-based supports that strengthen workforce decision-making and execution.
Events and Convening
ECO IMPACT
The premier conference at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, workforce development, and environmental sustainability.
Virtual Career Fairs
A fully immersive professional experience combining real-time job opportunities with tailored learning sessions, interactive exhibits, and exclusive networking that supports long-term career growth.
EP® Meetups
Networking and professional growth opportunities centered on celebrating the Environmental Professional (EP®) designation.
ECO x Change
Industry roundtables delivered with regional environmental industry associations to share environmental innovation, trends, and emerging skills requirements.
Multi-Sector Labour Market Summit
A national forum convening experts and senior leaders across sectors to discuss how to foster a modern, inclusive, and productive labour market for the 21st century.
Research and Labour Market Information (LMI)
Employment Estimates and Labour Demand
Scenario analysis and modelling system upgrades to produce employment estimates and labour demand/supply outlooks, including insights on job growth and age-related attrition – especially in energy and natural resources, construction, professional/scientific/technical services, public administration, and other services.
Job Posting Analysis Dashboard
Quarterly analysis of job postings to report on in-demand roles and skills, including critical jobs and skills across energy-related sectors (petroleum, wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen, nuclear, bioenergy).
HR Pulse / Snapshot
Employer surveys conducted twice per year to identify urgent workforce issues, emerging skills, and training needs.
Worker Demography and Diversity Report
A national report highlighting workforce representation of equity-deserving groups in the environmental workforce.
Compensation Study and Guide
Annual compensation studies to benchmark compensation levels and analyze wage trends across sectors, supported by a compensation guide.
Sector Studies (One per Year)
- Annual deep-dive studies focusing on one sector topic per year, including (examples):
- Nuclear Energy
- Energy Efficiency
- Smart Homes and Smart Cities
- Sustainable Transportation (including Aerospace)
- Sustainable Mining for Critical Minerals
- Green Manufacturing
- Eco-tourism
- Marine Defense
- Environmental and Cleantech Products and Services
Career Awareness and Perception Report
Research on career awareness and perceptions among under-represented groups to identify barriers and opportunities to increase diversity.
National Occupational Standards, Career Profiles, and Career Maps
Create and update national occupational standards, career profiles, and interactive occupational transferability/laddering maps for Smart Homes and Cities, Hydrogen, and Nuclear Energy, including updates to existing resources.
Reference example: https://eco.ca/ev-career-roles-graph/
Accreditation and Certifcation
Environmental Professional (EP®) Designation and Skills/Competency Certification Programs
Update the EP® designation and develop new skills/competency certification programs for:
- Green Residential Construction
- Sustainable Blue Economy
- Sustainable Mining
- Transportation
- Manufacturing
Accreditation Systems
Upgrade national environmental education standards and broaden scope to include micro-credentials and continuing education programs focused on environmental and sustainability topics.
Training and Toolkits
Employer HR Toolkits
Develop practical toolkits focused on:
- Competency-based hiring
- Targeted recruitment strategies
- Workforce planning
- Employee engagement, development, and retention
Training Curricula
Aligned with new LMI findings, design and deliver training on topics such as:
- Environmental stewardship
- AI for resource optimization
- Digital twinning
- Building and energy codes
- Sustainability fundamentals for non-environmental learners
- GHG accounting
- Environmental monitoring using drones
- Managing multi-energy systems
- Indigenous-led programs
- Dedicated learning tracks delivered through the annual ECO IMPACT conference
What Participants Gain
- Clearer insight into current and emerging workforce needs
- Stronger workforce planning and talent strategies
- Improved ability to recruit, onboard, and retain skilled workers
- Access to training and certification pathways aligned with industry demand
- Increased inclusion and access for equity-deserving groups
- Sector-wide collaboration to address shared labour challenges
How to Get Involved
SUSTAIN offers multiple ways to engage depending on your role:
Employers
Access workforce tools, insights, training, and events
Workers & Jobseekers
Attend events, trainings, and participate in certification programs
Partners & Associations
Collaborate on research, events, and sector initiatives
Educators
Align programs with industry needs and labour market data
Featured Events
VCF 2025
Participants were able to engage in meaningful conversations with peers and employers, expanding their professional networks.
ECOWorks 2025
Network face-to-face with employers, job seekers, and industry leaders in Calgary and Edmonton. Connect with Alberta’s Environmental workforce.
ECO IMPACT 2026
Attendees explore emerging opportunities, acquired skills for a tech-driven job market, and connected with leaders at the forefront of the environmental workforce revolution.
Compensation Benchmarks for Workforce Planning
Make informed workforce and hiring decisions with up-to-date compensation data for Canada’s environmental sector. Our 2026 salary guide provides clear benchmarks to support recruitment, retention, and long-term workforce planning.
Research, Tools, and Resources
SUSTAIN produces a growing library of publicly accessible resources, including:
Labour market reports and outlooks
Workforce planning tools and dashboards
Career maps and occupational standards
Training and certification resources
Build the Skills That Power a Sustainable Future
Explore the Catalogue
Browse our full range of skill-based courses and employability resources designed to meet the evolving needs of Canada’s green economy.
Each course focuses on relevant, transferable competencies that prepare participants for meaningful roles in the environmental workforce.
Featured Course
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Primer Course
Unlock the future with our Free AI Primer Course!
Whether you’re curious about artificial intelligence or looking to sharpen your tech skills, this comprehensive course will help you understand AI’s core concepts, cutting-edge technologies, and ethical considerations.
Coming Soon
Training Series Framework
Learning objectives, content maps, and outcomes for each training stream.
Coming Soon
Women in Leadership Curriculum
Empowering women for leadership roles in Canada’s environmental sector.
Coming Soon
Essential Skills for Success Curriculum
Learn foundational workplace skills to thrive in environmental careers.
Coming Soon
Indigenous Training Curriculum
Training developed with Indigenous communities, grounded in cultural knowledge and traditional teachings.
Coming Soon
Drone Training Curriculum
Gain hands-on skills for using drones in environmental monitoring and field research.
Coming Soon
AR/VR Training Curriculum
Learn how to apply immersive technologies in environmental education and communication
Thank you to our partner for making these programs possible:
