May 7th, 2025 | Alex Harris | Seaside FM News
A new report from the Ecology Action Centre shows that efforts to make buildings more energy efficient will create opportunities for Nova Scotia’s skilled workforce.
The Ecology Action Centre is a member-based organization that aims to create systemic change in the face of urgent, and complex environmental issues.
“In the wake of a federal election that focused heavily on jobs and strengthening the Canadian economy, this report outlines a path to achieving both,” says Chris Benjamin, senior energy coordinator with the EAC.
“In Nova Scotia, we need energy efficiency upgrades to commercial buildings and more than 16,500 homes each year to meet our legislated climate targets. For that to happen we need to train thousands more workers, which is a huge opportunity for our skilled trades sector.”
According to Building Nova Scotia’s Green Workforce in five years the province could see over 7,000 vacant carpenter positions, over 4,000 vacant electrician positions, and a significant boost in HVAC jobs. A large part of the gap is attributed to an aging workforce and low graduation rates for trades programs.
The report also emphasizes diversity gaps in the workforce. In Nova Scotia, women represent less than 12% of workers in primary professions required for retrofits and less than 7% of secondary professions professions required for retrofits. Barriers for women include workplace bias and sexism, access to childcare, and limited opportunities.
“To meet this demand, we need to support more gender-diverse and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) workers entering these professions,” says Benjamin.
Policy recommendations in the report include expanding apprenticeship opportunities and transitioning to a younger workforce. The report also includes recommendations on inclusion and equity to diversify the workforce.
