Floating offshore wind farms,1 AI that forecasts renewable energy output with unparalleled accuracy to enhance grid performance,2 cyber security prevention and countermeasures,3 solar panels on boats—today’s electricity and renewable energy sector is reinventing itself.
Technological and workforce innovation are the driving forces behind this transformation.
Clean, reliable power for our homes, devices, businesses and critical infrastructure is essential for economic prosperity and growth. The sector is expanding its capacity to meet two to three times our current demand over the next 12-15 years, with a forecasted growth of 44%-47% from 2021 to 2050.4
Managing intermittency, including fluctuations in wind and solar, requires increased battery storage as we continue to diversify Canada’s energy mix.5 Low-carbon hydrogen is emerging as a transformative force in combating climate change. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will bring reliable, clean energy and heat to off-grid remote and northern communities. The potential value for SMRs in Canada is estimated at $5.3B between 2025 and 2040, with a global estimate of $150B in the same period.6
The complexity of combined technologies adds another layer of innovation. Examples include SMRs that could produce clean hydrogen and drone-enabled AI and infrared technologies for rapid response assessments, which are invaluable during increasingly volatile extreme weather events.7
What is the common thread that weaves this all together? Human-powered innovation.
“We need to expand our talent pool to optimize innovation, boost productivity, and address the significant talent gaps in our industry” advised Nirav Patel, Chair of the Board of Directors, Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC). “We want to tap into people who are curious about solving big challenges when it comes to achieving our net zero goals. From talent sourcing and recruitment to workforce practices, our industry is advancing by doing things differently to meet Canada’s growing clean energy demands.”
Additional context is well stated in this October executive Q&A with
Michelle Branigan, CEO of EHRC.
Canada’s electricity sector has grown by 12% over the past five years, nearly double the workforce growth rate of the rest of the economy. EHRC’s recent labour market intelligence report, Electricity in Demand: Labour Market Insights 2023-2028, provides a detailed current state of the sector from a policy, technology and demographic lens. The report forecasts 28,000 job openings by 2028 due to both electricity growth demands and workforce retirements, with an anticipated 150,000 openings by 2035 and 2050. It offers an evidence-rich roadmap for understanding, planning, and delivering a reliable, cost-effective, and carbon-neutral electricity system.
With workforce shortages as a top priority for industry leaders, technological transformation and innovation will significantly impact workforce composition and skills.
The Innovation Supply-Demand Talent Gap
Online job postings for wind turbine technicians increased more than 6.5 times in the last five years, while solar and EV-related job postings increased over 3.5 times. This trend signals a significant transformation in the occupational structure and skills requirements of Canada’s electricity workforce across all regions.
To address this talent and skills challenge, work-integrated learning (WIL) stands as a cornerstone. WIL is a proven initiative that combines experiential training with real-time learning to meet new skill requirements. It serves as a focal point that brings together employers, postsecondary programs, and trades with youth, career-seekers transitioning to new jobs, and skilled newcomers to Canada. Innovative approaches within WIL have successfully attracted and retained women, Indigenous peoples and other under-represented communities in the industry.
As the trusted program delivery partner for Government of Canada investments, EHRC has successfully placed more than 4,400 job seekers with employers. Here are examples highlighting innovation in practice and the benefits realized by both participants and employers.
Innovation That Drives Earlier Talent Pipeline Entry
Here’s an eye-opening fact about the career runway required to fill future jobs. To educate, train and certify nuclear engineers entering the workforce in 2030, today’s grade 7 youth must choose STEM8-related courses to start on this career path.
EHRC is meeting this challenge head-on through innovative ways that are sparking the imaginations of Canada’s youth. Together, through partnerships and collaborations with employers, educators and communities, we are connecting young people with experiences that generate interest in the importance of Canada’s electricity and renewable energy sector. We are igniting interest in the exciting career possibilities in an industry reinventing itself to create clean energy for a sustainable world.
Bright Futures STEM Camps for Indigenous youth open young minds to the power of electricity with hands-on learning activities, including pedalling a bike to blend a smoothie and running small solar-powered cars.
Employers outfit young participants with all the gear and safety equipment to showcase new technologies and in-the-field jobs.
Giant, interactive maps in school gymnasiums see students step into an exploration of how electricity works and how it is integral to our world. The experience is complete with video career profiles atop wind turbines, at hydro dams, solar facilities and nuclear power plants, as well as professional roles in accounting, climate risk analysis, energy management and cyber security.
This innovation involves collaborating with educators to create new curricula that align with evolving industry careers. We are introducing approaches like micro-credentials—short, focused courses recognized by employers—that teach new job-related skills.
Innovation That Sets Its Sights On A New Workforce Model
Leadership by example is EHRC’s commitment to pioneering next-generation solutions. We are actively developing a new approach to workforce development, leveraging decades of proven performance. Our goal is to integrate industry innovations like AI and other emerging technologies that are reshaping the job landscape and upskilling needs. We aim to connect employers, educators and job seekers to elevate the skills level of our national workforce, meet the demands of our economy, and provide great jobs for workers across Canada.
In closing, innovation remains our only constant. By empowering a workforce that inspires and leads, we can help fulfill the future promise of Canada’s reliable, clean energy future.
Nirav Patel, Chair, EHRC Board of Directors
Head of Human Resources and Internal Communications, Altura Power (on secondment, Vice President Human Resources, Ontario Power Generation/OPG)
1 Energy Digital “Top 10 Emerging Technologies”, April 2024
2 Energy Digital “Top 10 Emerging Technologies”, April 2024
3 Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
4 Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
5 World Economic Forum
6 Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, an entity within Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)
7 Electricity Canada
8 Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)