About WorkGreen.ca

WorkGreen.ca was created as part of the Midwestern Ontario Regional Green Jobs Strategy project (2009-2011) as a resource for businesses, educational institutions, communities and the workforce in Midwestern Ontario. In order to maintain this resource beyond the life of the project, one of the project partners, the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin has taken on the role of updating and maintaining the Workgreen.ca site

A Green Jobs Profile: Working in the Green Economy, September 2011

Cover of Green Jobs Profile: Working in the Green EconomyThe Green Jobs Profiles highlight opportunities in the Green Economy including industry overviews for Biogas, Biomass, Geothermal, Green Building and Construction, Green Infrastructure, Solar Photovoltaic, Sustainable Forestry and Wind.

Each profile includes information on the following:

  • Description of occupation (70 occupations)
  • Total # of workers
  • # of people employed in this occupation
  • % of people employed
  • % of occupations in employed workforce
  • Age profile of people who work in this occupation
  • Median income from persons in this occupation
  • # of people in employed workforce
  • Top 3 industrial sectors based on full time employment
  • Job loss/gain information
  • This Occupation May Also be Called
  • Ontario Employment Prospects
  • Employment Requirements
  • Links
Business Retention and Expansion Survey Infographic

BR+E Survey WordleThe objective of the Green Business Survey was to engage businesses involved in renewable energy (RE), Energy Efficiency (EE), or Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) activities and to assess and identify potential job creation targets, skills needs, and workforce adjustment issues.

The Green Economy provides both a challenge and an opportunity: an opportunity to accelerate job growth in industries that are rapidly growing, and a challenge to anticipate, strategize, and implement collective labour force measures to ensure a balance between workforce demand and supply.

Green Jobs Strategy and Recommendations

For more information on the strategic recommendations, please download the report Green Jobs Strategy Final Report and Recommendations.

BUSINESS SUPPORT STRATEGIES

  • AGRI-BUSINESS INCUBATOR
  • SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
  • BIOGAS BUSINESS CASE WORKING GROUP
  • SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES WORKBOOK

JOBS, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING STRATEGIES

  • GREEN CAREER DEVELOPMENT
  • GREEN EDUCATION PATHWAYS
  • GREEN WORKFORCE INFORMATION HUB
  • SUSTAINABILITY THEMED CAREER DAY

INVESTMENT ATTRACTION STRATEGIES

  • REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND GREEN MANUFACTURING

COMMUNITY STRATEGIES

  • BEST PRACTICES: ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION SERVICE DELIVERY

YOUTH STRATEGIES

  • ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION OUTREACH TRAINING
  • STORYTELLING, SOCIAL MARKETING, AND NEW MEDIA PROJECT
  • YOUTH THINK TANK FOR LOCAL GREEN JOBS

EVALUATION STRATEGIES

  • ECO VALUE-ADDED RESEARCH PROJECT
  • PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

RECOGNITION STRATEGIES

  • REGIONAL GREEN AWARDS
Social Enterprise Overview

Social Enterprise Organizational DiagramSocial Enterprise refers to organizations with primarily social or environmental objectives where surpluses are reinvested into the business or used for community benefit. These ventures provide goods and services to the market for the purpose of creating a blended return on investment (both financial and social/environmental). Rather than maximizing shareholder value, the main aim of a social enterprise is to generate revenue to further their social or environmental goals.

Social enterprise has been embraced by many not-for-profit and charitable organizations in the social services sector, but more and more it is seen as a viable option for for-profit businesses to make positive contributions to the environment.

Workforce System Framework for Green Jobs

Green Workforce System FrameworkThe greening of the Midwestern Ontario economy is already underway as policy initiatives and environmental pressures have created new opportunities for business and social enterprise in the region.  From a strategic planning perspective it is important to examine what this transition will mean for employment and education institutions in terms of workforce and training needs, as well as employment trends and skills requirements.

The Workforce System Framework for Green Jobs suggests a way for communities to work toward building a workforce within the green economy.  The Framework identifies the foundational areas of the green economy:  Policy Drivers, Transforming Industrial Sectors & Occupations, and Skill Changers.  It also identifies operational issues, including roles and actions for community stakeholders such as Education & Training Institutions, Industry, Labour, Government and Employment services.