Empowering Youth, Driving Equity in Sustainability. The Green Career Centre tackles systemic inequities, creating pathways for underrepresented youth in green jobs.
Bridging the Green Skills Gap
The urgency of the climate crisis has catalyzed a global shift toward green jobs and sustainable economies. Yet, data from LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2024 brings to light a pressing reality: the demand for green talent is outpacing supply. By 2050, half of all green jobs may remain unfilled if the talent pool does not double. Amid this challenge, organizations like the Green Career Centre (GCC) are stepping up to bridge this gap, particularly for underrepresented groups such as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), newcomers, and women who experience barriers to entry.
Breaking Barriers and Creating Pathways
The GCC operates at the intersection of equity, employment, and environmental sustainability, empowering youth to overcome systemic obstacles in accessing green careers. Its core initiatives include the Youth Green Jobs Network, with nearly 3,000 members who get daily access to green job opportunities and networking. They also offer the Green Skills Mapping Tool, enabling underrepresented youth to find micro-credentials and training programs that align with in demand green skills found in job descriptions. Recognizing the importance of access to these opportunities, the organization released the Wage Subsidy Matching Tool, connecting underrepresented youth to over 100 wage subsidy opportunities, where the federal government partially or fully covers salaries and offers wrap-around services that include access to professional development, language training, mentorship, career coaching, and many other vital supports.
Beyond resources, the GCC hosts many events that focus on green job preparation and professional development. Chrissa Gregorio is a Green Career Events Specialist at the Green Career Centre and she shares, “Leading the events team at the Green Career Centre has been such a rewarding experience! One of the highlights was organizing the Sustainability Snapshot Series, where we provided free LinkedIn headshot photography sessions to BIPOC youth and young people from low-income communities. We wanted to make sure these individuals had access to professional resources, especially when many don’t really have the means to invest in something as simple yet important as a professional headshot. Seeing how our events and resources helped young people build confidence and plan their futures in the green economy has been truly inspiring, and I’m so grateful to be part of such meaningful work!”.
The GCC’s service offerings address critical gaps. For instance, underrepresented youth face systemic challenges in accessing resources, funding, and networks needed to secure employment in the sustainability sector. Participatory research that the GCC developed through community consultations and focus groups had underrepresented youth share their common barriers and struggles in their green job search. Maya Adachi, a focus group participant remarked, “There’s a disconnect between who’s working in [my university’s] career centre, and who is working in the field”. The GCC tackles this head-on by offering tailored green career resources in alignment with what is offered in the sector that has not been available at conventional career centres.
Policy Advocacy to Launch a Youth Climate Corps
The Future Skills Centre’s State of Skills Report emphasizes that sustainability careers are no longer optional—they are essential. The growing significance of green skills and knowledge is reshaping industries, becoming integral across sectors and occupations. As a result, workers must adapt by building on their existing competencies through targeted upskilling to meet the demands of a sustainable economy.
Countries like Canada must adopt bold strategies, integrating green skills into education systems and incentivizing workforce training. However, systemic inequities persist. Women remain underrepresented in green jobs, holding only 6% of such roles compared to 20% for men in advanced economies. Moreover, many young people, especially Gen Z, struggle to break into these industries due to lack of experience and training with only one out of 20 Gen Z possessing the green skills needed to tackle the climate crisis.
The Green Career Centre’s commitment to addressing systemic inequities in the green workforce was recently demonstrated through its research on Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Plan. This government initiative, while a step forward, falls short in addressing the specific needs of underrepresented youth, who face unique challenges in accessing sustainable careers.
One of the most impactful proposals from this research is the establishment of a Youth Climate Corps—a national initiative designed to create accessible, well-paying green jobs for youth while addressing critical climate challenges. This program would:
- Provide long-term, stable funding for green projects led by young people.
- Offer comprehensive training to equip participants with in-demand green skills.
- Create pathways for youth from underrepresented communities to lead in sustainability sectors.
As the Climate Emergency Unit puts forward, a Youth Climate Corps could catalyze transformative change by bridging the gap between young people’s aspirations and the realities of the labor market. It would also address urgent needs for climate action, as Canada works toward its 2050 net-zero goals.
Funding Inequities for BIPOC and Low-Income Youth
The Green Career Centre and other grassroots organizations recognize the need for increased climate funding whether it’s with the federal government committing a minimum of $1 billion to launch the Youth Climate Corps, or climate philanthropy in Canada increasing from its mere 0.9%. There has been a grassroots call for BIPOC youth and other solutions that do not push forward the “clean growth” narrative to also receive access to climate funding. According to a recent study, BIPOC and low-income youth receive next to nothing in climate philanthropy, and are chronically underfunded and under supported.
Despite these challenges, the GCC’s work exemplifies the potential of targeted interventions. It is a reminder that achieving climate goals requires dismantling systemic barriers in climate philanthropy and championing equitable environmental employment. To funders, policymakers, and the private sector: the climate crisis demands bold, inclusive and radical action. Organizations like the GCC need your support to scale their efforts, empower marginalized communities, and ensure that the green transition is just and equitable. To get involved in the campaign on climate philanthropy for those who need it most join the email campaign to push funders to shift their practices.
Visit greencareer.ca to find research, events and resources to help guide you in your green career search.
