Green occupations pathways: from vulnerable jobs to rapid-growth careers
This impact paper examines the feasibility and desirability of transitioning workers from occupations susceptible to automation to rapidly growing occupations – particularly in the clean economy.
Document highlights
- This impact paper examines the feasibility and desirability of transitioning workers from occupations susceptible to automation to rapidly growing occupations – particularly in the clean economy. We define this shift as a transition from high-risk, low-mobility (HRLM) occupations to rapid-growth, clean-economy occupations.
- First, we identify green industries that are critical to transitioning to a clean economy. We then identify existing and emerging green occupations that are more important to green industries than the overall economy.
- Next, we determine the key differences between green and non-green occupations by leveraging a comprehensive inventory of skills, knowledge requirements, and wages. We also estimate the equivalence between years of training and skills gains that can inform retraining programs.
- Lastly, through a survey of over 500 Canadian workers and in-depth interviews with industry associations, labour representatives, and other relevant experts, we examine the human factors in job transitions, such as worker attitudes and preferences.
Key findings
Career pathways to rapid-growth occupations in the clean economy are open to all workers whose roles are at high risk of automation and who have limited career mobility. We refer to these vulnerable occupations as high-risk, low-mobility (HRLM) occupations.
The number of available transitions varies considerably by each high-risk, low-mobility occupation and the ability and willingness of workers to retrain.
Almost every vulnerable occupation has a transition pathway to the clean economy with one year of training. However, many occupations have only limited transition opportunities with six months or less of training.