Technical and soft skills are critical to progress in your professional career
In a work environment that is influenced by shifting business, regulatory, social and technological priorities and trends, skills can easily become outdated.
For this study, ECO Canada engaged 686 individuals representing employers from both private and public sectors, employees, and post-secondary institutions. As a result, we identified knowledge, skills, and training needs to support Canada’s growing environmental sector.
Our findings indicate that:
- Policy and Legislation, Communications and Public Awareness, Industry Knowledge, Health and Safety, and Research and Development are the most important technical skills for environmental professionals.
- 61% of employers indicated that Industry Knowledge is an essential area of training for entry-level workers.
- Intermediate and senior level employees require training in Policy and Legislation.
- Communication, Collaboration, Project Management, Report Writing, and Attitude are the top 5 soft skills that employers consider paramount.
- Leadership and conflict resolution become crucial as workers advance in their careers.
- Over half of the employees surveyed reported difficulties to accessing training. The most common barriers are related to cost, scheduling and accessibility.