Commissioned by Green Jobs BC, a project of the Centre for Civic Governance, Jobs for Today: Canada’s Building Trades and the Net-Zero Transition explores the vital role Canada’s construction industry plays in the net-zero transition, and the potential for green job growth in the building trades.
“The expansion of non-emitting energy sources is going to spur a boom in infrastructure and building construction like Canada has never seen,” says report author Jim Stanford, Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work. “ In turn this will create millions of job-years of work for skilled construction workers. This will be a new era of prosperity for building trades. Donald Trump’s erratic policies have reminded all Canadians we need to build a more resilient and self-sufficient economy, that is less vulnerable to his attacks. The massive investments required for the energy transition can play a central role in Canada’s response to Trump. They will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, they will better unite Canada from west to east, and they will position us well to compete and succeed in a net-zero world economy.”
The report projects new work for construction and building workers in all trades totaling between 6.3 million and 9.5 million job years between now and 2050. That represents an average of up to 350,000 ongoing jobs over this period, equivalent to a permanent step increase of 20-30% in total current construction employment in Canada.
“This report makes it clear: Canada’s transition to a cleaner economy represents one of the most significant job creation opportunities in our country’s history,” said Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “Skilled trades workers will be indispensable to delivering the energy infrastructure, retrofits, and clean technology projects that this transition demands. Our members are ready to lead the way by building a more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous Canada for generations to come.”
This landmark study, an update on 2017’s Jobs for Tomorrow, was released in Sept 2025.
For more information and media inquiries, please contact Melissa Gregerson via mgregerson@ccg.eco