Strengthening Canada’s Environmental Workforce
Sustainable Talent and Innovation Network
SUSTAIN is a national workforce development initiative led by ECO Canada, designed to help employers, workers, and partners navigate the rapid transformation of Canada’s environmental and clean economy.
Through labour market insights, workforce tools, training, and sector collaboration, SUSTAIN supports stronger talent attraction, workforce planning, and long-term capacity across Canada’s environmental sector.
What Is SUSTAIN?
SUSTAIN is a multi-year, national project that addresses critical workforce challenges facing Canada’s environmental sector, including talent shortages, emerging skill gaps, workforce mobility, and equitable access to career pathways.
Delivered both virtually and in person, SUSTAIN brings together employers, industry organizations, educators, and government partners to build a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready environmental workforce.
Who SUSTAIN is For
SUSTAIN supports a broad range of stakeholders across Canada’s environmental and sustainability ecosystem:
Employers seeking to attract, develop, and retain skilled talent
Workers and job seekers navigating environmental career pathways
Educators and training providers aligning programs with labour market needs
Industry associations and sector councils addressing shared workforce challenges
Equity-deserving groups seeking access to training, certification, and career mobility
What SUSTAIN Delivers
SUSTAIN provides practical, evidence-based supports that strengthen workforce decision-making and execution.
Labour Market Intelligence & Insights
Industry-validated labour market information (LMI)
Employment forecasts and workforce outlook reports
Job posting analysis and emerging skills identification
Compensation benchmarks and sector trend analysis
Workforce Tools & Resources
Employer HR toolkits for workforce planning and recruitment
Competency-based hiring and retention resources
Career profiles, occupational standards, and career maps
Bilingual, publicly accessible workforce development tools
Training, Certification & Career Development
Environmental Professional (EP) certification pathways
Micro-credentials and continuing education programs
Targeted training aligned with emerging skills and LMI findings
Workforce mobility initiatives supporting career progression
Collaboration & Engagement
Build competitive and equitable compensation strategies. Get access ECO Canada’s comprehensive 2025 Environmental Worker Compensation Guide and customized benchmarking tools designed specifically for the environmental sector.
What Participants Gain
- Clearer insight into current and emerging workforce needs
- Stronger workforce planning and talent strategies
- Improved ability to recruit, onboard, and retain skilled workers
- Access to training and certification pathways aligned with industry demand
- Increased inclusion and access for equity-deserving groups
- Sector-wide collaboration to address shared labour challenges
How to Get Involved
SUSTAIN offers multiple ways to engage depending on your role:
Employers
Access workforce tools, insights, training, and events
Workers & Jobseekers
Explore career pathways, training, and certifications
Partners & Associations
Collaborate on research, events, and sector initiatives
Educators
Align programs with industry needs and labour market data
Research, Tools, and Resources
SUSTAIN produces a growing library of publicly accessible resources, including:
Labour market reports and outlooks
Workforce planning tools and dashboards
Career maps and occupational standards
Training and certification resources
Build the Skills That Power a Sustainable Future
Explore the Catalogue
Browse our full range of skill-based courses and employability resources designed to meet the evolving needs of Canada’s green economy.
Each course focuses on relevant, transferable competencies that prepare participants for meaningful roles in the environmental workforce.
Featured Course
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Primer Course
Unlock the future with our Free AI Primer Course!
Whether you’re curious about artificial intelligence or looking to sharpen your tech skills, this comprehensive course will help you understand AI’s core concepts, cutting-edge technologies, and ethical considerations.
Coming Soon
Training Series Framework
Learning objectives, content maps, and outcomes for each training stream.
Coming Soon
Women in Leadership Curriculum
Empowering women for leadership roles in Canada’s environmental sector.
Coming Soon
Essential Skills for Success Curriculum
Learn foundational workplace skills to thrive in environmental careers.
Coming Soon
Indigenous Training Curriculum
Training developed with Indigenous communities, grounded in cultural knowledge and traditional teachings.
Coming Soon
Drone Training Curriculum
Gain hands-on skills for using drones in environmental monitoring and field research.
Coming Soon
AR/VR Training Curriculum
Learn how to apply immersive technologies in environmental education and communication
Thank you to our partner for making these programs possible:
