OSPE - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Recommendations - Provincial Government - 20

3. Train engineers for the skills required to succeed in the energy efficiency and green building sector

As Ontario and Canada transition towards a low-carbon future, the energy efficiency and building sectors will be at the forefront of
change. To accelerate this, we need to strengthen the capacity of the existing workforce and attract more people to work in these
sectors, especially engineers. This is why OSPE has joined Workforce Coalition 2030, which is a broad cross-sectoral coalition of
employers, educators, and practitioners across the construction ecosystem working to collectively impact government policy, business
practice, and education.

Engineers believe that sustainability, investing in talent development and retention, and fostering innovation must be the priority of new
government funding allocations. As COVID-19 has proven to be a major disruptor to the world order, causing rapid changes to the work
force, this will ensure a strong economy that can withstand future catastrophes.
Prior to COVID-19, some of Ontario's most strategic sectors, such as infrastructure and transportation were already facing a talent-gap
in their engineering departments. Engineering jobs were being given to international firms because Ontario did not have the right talent
to get the job done. This is deeply concerning to the economic recovery of the province as the success of the economy depends on the
ability to match talent with job vacancies and to ensure that this talent can adapt to market demands. This concern has become magnified
by immediate demands for more technologically equipped engineers due to changes caused by the current crisis.
The pandemic has also expedited trends such as digitalization and building information modelling that were already transforming
building design and engineering. By aligning with Workforce 2030, OSPE looks to accelerate new approaches for rapid up-skilling,
growing women's participation in STEM occupations, and emphasizing continuing professional education to build design capacity and
deliver enhanced low-carbon building performance.
Ontario must invest in engineering talent across the province. One of the primary barriers to innovation and growth is the access to a
talent pool that possesses the skills needed to adapt to the future economy. While the labour market has faced severe disarray from the
pandemic, it also presents an opportunity to re-skill unemployed and under-employed Ontarians, with a focus on sectors with sustainable
long-term growth.
In 2018, the green building sector directly employed approximately 436,000 workers across 51,000 establishments in Canada within the
following key industries: construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, professional and business services and utilities, all of which
employ engineers. Together, these generated $82.6 billion in estimated energy efficiency operating revenues in 2018. In the next 10
years, targeted investment and policies in support of green buildings can lead to 626,080 direct green building jobs in Canada.
Engineers are key to planning and executing the green projects that will provide these jobs. Without engineers this sector will not flourish.

OSPE - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Recommendations - Provincial Government

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