Looking for your next ‘green’ job? Here are some tips and resources from experts
Recently, the Leadership Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University hosted the Future Skills Centre (FSC), Diversity Institute (DI), Magnet, and other experts for Jobs in the Net Zero Economy, a webinar and panel discussion about jobs in the low-carbon economy and the skills needed for success in this growing sector.
We had a great discussion with our speakers, including:
- Dr. Wendy Cukier – Founder & Academic Director, Diversity Institute
- Dr. Geni Peters – Director of Research, ECO Canada
- Holly Dunne – Account Executive/UK Market Lead, Manifest Climate
- Nidhi Khanna, Lead – Youth Climate Action Initiative, Skills for Change
- Cori Anderson – Director (and Architect) of the Sustainable Jobs Plan, Natural Resources Canada
- Nisreen Rawdah – Senior Manager, Program Engagement, Magnet
Regardless of the direction of government policy, FSC-supported research shows massive job growth and opportunities for ‘greenpreneurs’ as demands for innovative solutions grow. While there are huge demands for green tech and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) grads, the research shows opportunities across sectors for diverse graduates in all disciplines.
Cleantech sector prioritizes human skills like teamwork
As expected with technological change, there are now expanded job opportunities in information and communications technologies (ICT). However, the latest data shows that with the rapid adoption of technology and the acceleration of digitization across sectors like retail, agriculture, and banking, there are now more jobs for digital professionals outside ICT than within it. Further, many of these jobs are not STEM jobs but jobs for people with hybrid skills who understand how these technologies can be used to support organizational objectives, or how they address consumer behaviour, policy, and regulation.
Recent DI research has found that the top skills listed in cleantech job ads include teamwork, communication, customer service, leadership, and attention to detail. Even in a tech-heavy field such as cleantech, the top skills in job ads were transferable social-emotional skills, and the top technology skills were often basic digital literacy skills, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
A wide variety of non-STEM and non-tech related skills are needed in cleantech jobs. What is considered a ‘green’ job can vary and only a few jobs are made up of green tasks alone. Panelist Holly Dunne spoke about her career journey at Manifest Climate. Dunne’s role isn’t solely focused on ‘green’ tasks, but she says working at a green company is a great way to get your foot in the door and get some experience while still making a difference, even if it may not be in the way you originally imagined.
Many organizations may be undertaking a “green” transformation and they will require experts in process reengineering, strategy, adoption, innovation and regulatory issues. The panelists also stressed that women entrepreneurs, Indigenous entrepreneurs, and other diverse entrepreneurs will play a critical role in a net-zero transformation.
If you’re interested in skill-development programs, check out these resources provided by the panelists:
- Lifelong Learning Materials from Eco Canada
- BEAHR Indigenous training program from Eco Canada
- Career Skills development program from Skills for Change
- Employment services from Skills for Change
- Youth Climate Action Initiative from Skills for Change
If you’re looking for your next green job, try these resources: