A new report from Green Jobs BC, Jobs for Today: Canada’s Building Trades and the Net-Zero Transition, projects that meeting Canada’s climate goals could generate between 6.3 million and 9.5 million job-years of work in the building trades by 2050. This surge represents an average of up to 350,000 ongoing jobs annually, equal to a 20–30% permanent increase in Canada’s current construction employment levels.

The report highlights the essential role of the construction industry in delivering the infrastructure, retrofits, and clean energy projects needed for Canada’s net-zero transition. Author Jim Stanford, economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work, noted that expanding non-emitting energy sources will drive an unprecedented boom in infrastructure and building construction. This, in turn, will create long-term prosperity for tradespeople across the country, while strengthening Canada’s economic resilience and competitiveness in the global clean energy economy.

Stanford also emphasized that the investments required for the energy transition will help Canada build greater self-sufficiency in the face of global political and economic uncertainties, while uniting the country from west to east through shared opportunities in sustainable development.

Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions, reinforced the report’s findings, stating that skilled trades workers will be indispensable to meeting Canada’s climate targets. He highlighted that members of the building trades are prepared to lead the delivery of clean energy infrastructure and retrofitting projects that will define Canada’s path to a sustainable and prosperous future.

The report underscores that Canada’s clean energy transition represents not only an environmental necessity but also one of the largest job creation opportunities in Canadian history. By investing in workforce development, infrastructure, and clean technology, Canada can ensure a thriving building trades sector that supports economic growth, resiliency, and a successful transition to a net-zero world.

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