There will only be a green transition if the workers are there to implement it. However, Quebec’s Plan for a Green Economy (PEV), which relies on electrification, will lead to the creation of 8,600 additional jobs by 2030 in the transport sector alone, according to a study published Tuesday by EnviroCompétences, the sectoral committee environmental workforce.
“For a sector that is already in serious shortage, it’s gargantuan,” said Dominique Dodier, director general of this government partner organization.
The ENP aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37.5% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Among other things, it relies on the development of an economy driven by electric vehicles and batteries.
New occupations
Some jobs will thus be lost, particularly in the field of petrochemicals, service stations and the sale of certain automobile parts. But more jobs will be created. Electrical engineers, electricians as well as trades in the installation, maintenance and repair of certain equipment will in particular be increasingly sought after, according to projections made for theProspective study of the workforce and jobs related to the green transition and climate change.
In this context, the training and requalification of workers and the next generation will be crucial, believes Ms.me Dodier. New curricula will necessarily have to be created, while old ones will have to be adapted.
“Car mechanics have to convert to electricity, for example. In the course of electrical engineers, it may be relevant to add knowledge related to the battery sector”, she underlined.
According to the director general, these trainings should emphasize generic skills such as creativity, problem solving and critical thinking.
Find workers
Recruiting the necessary talent will be a big challenge, admits Mme Dodier, who nevertheless believes that it will be possible, by focusing in particular on young people, women and foreign workers.
“We are calling on all the players in the ecosystem, so that they come to the table to think about the solutions of tomorrow,” said Ms.me Dodier.
EnviroCompétences intends to carry out a similar exercise for the other sectors of activity concerned by the EPI, namely construction and industries. These areas will require, among other things, energy efficiency advisors and building mechanics technicians.
According to the organization, which has existed for more than 25 years, the environmental sector already provides 70,000 jobs in Quebec in 10,000 companies.