OSPE - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Recommendations - Provincial Government - 21

However, despite this growth, research from the Environmental Careers Organization of Canada reveals that employers are generally
experiencing difficulties hiring energy managers/directors/consultants, jobs which engineers can perform well.
Currently the energy efficiency workforce is also, on average, less diverse than the national workforce. Just 18% of workers were reported
to be female, and 2% indigenous, both figures below the national average. Proper government funding towards training in this sector can
lead to an increase in diversity and equity seeking groups.
Further investment in this sector, would not only help fight climate change, but would also stimulate the economy by creating more jobs
for Ontarians. This is extremely important now more than ever, due to high unemployment rates experienced due to the COVID-19
pandemic. Ensuring an adequate supply of skilled workers is crucial to supporting the sector's growth.
Government policies that help the energy efficiency sector thrive will lead to a more productive and sustainable workforce, that will help
grow the economy while protecting the environment.
Therefore, we suggest the Government of Ontario:

a. Ensures an in-depth skills gaps and needs assessment of the energy efficiency sector is conducted, including the building sub-sector

and occupations across the full ecosystem, from design and construction to building operation and management. This would

identify the most effective education and training pathways and determine how to update this information regularly and expeditiously

as markets and technologies evolve. Such assessment would lead to better understanding of current and future needs.

b. Strengthen training provision by increasing the capacity of educators and trainers, specifically with emphasis on green literacy basics,

low-carbon skills and latest technologies training content.

c. Support training uptake by aiding new entrants and incumbent workers to build in-demand skills and rapidly up-skill for

re-employment, especially work such as building retrofits for energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvements. It is

recommended that design and engineering professionals, and skilled trades workers, who have been impacted by the COVID-19

pandemic job losses, are given the opportunity for immediate skills training in areas already identified by employers and unions in

order to meet urgent demand for low-carbon building skills and associated occupations. Some of these include energy modelling,

low-carbon materials, mechanical/electrical and building automation systems, geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic systems,

plumbing and pipefitting, etc.

d. Create incentives to support a strong culture of lifelong learning across Ontario, where employers and employees are provided with

the tools and resources to up-skill and retrain local talent. This year, OSPE is launching the Ontario Engineering Academy (OEA) to

up-skill/re-skill engineering graduates exclusively to meet industry needs in Ontario. Your support of this initiative by mandating

companies be responsible for the up-skilling of local employees is critical for engineering graduates to adequately support Ontario's

economic recovery. There is an opportunity for the government to incentivize engineering companies to invest in the professional

development of their employees, to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and know-how to design and execute

based on new realities.

e. Provincial funding should mirror the type of funding that the government destined to preparing people for careers in the Auto and

Advanced Manufacturing Sectors.
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OSPE - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Recommendations - Provincial Government

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OSPE - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Recommendations - Provincial Government