Assessing the Green Skills Requirements in Canada's Construction Industry

The transition to a sustainable economy has led to an increased demand for green jobs, especially in high-emission sectors like construction. The Canadian construction industry accounts for about 14% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for a workforce equipped with specialized green skills. However, a significant labour shortage, along with skill mismatches, presents a challenge to achieving sustainability targets. This study seeks to identify the essential green skills required in Canada’s construction sector by analyzing labour market trends, job postings, and industry expectations. It employs a three-step process: (1) data collection, which involves filtering construction-related jobs using the O*NET system and job postings from major job boards; (2) data processing, which matches job requirements to standard green skill labels from the ESCO database; and (3) data analysis, which ranks and categorizes skill frequencies. Findings reveal significant variation in green job integration within the construction sector. New and emerging green occupations demonstrate the highest greenness scores, while traditional roles show limited adaptation to green practices. The study also pinpoints the most in-demand green skills, which is the skill set for "adopt[ing] ways to reduce pollution." This result emphasizes the importance of transversal skills applicable across various job roles. Furthermore, both sector-specific and cross-sector green skills are crucial for enhancing workforce adaptability. The results imply that industry stakeholders should prioritize workforce development strategies, including targeted vocational training, public-private partnerships, and flexible learning pathways, to address the green skills gap. These findings deepen our understanding of the evolving labour market and inform policies aimed at aligning education and industry needs for a sustainable construction sector in Canada.