OTTAWA, Ontario -August 22, 2017 – Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), today announced its upcoming National Labour Market Information (LMI) study − Workforce in Motion 2017-2022. Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program, the new LMI study is an update to EHRC’s 2011 “Power in Motion” report, which accurately predicted a skilled labour shortage, and provided electricity companies with concrete, actionable steps to alleviate the situation.
“The new LMI report will provide both employers and educators within the electricity industry with the most up-to-date information and statistics, to address the labour-supply-demand gap,” said EHRC’s CEO, Michelle Branigan. “At the same time, the data will facilitate more effective workforce planning, regulatory filing and organizational planning – particularly as it relates to identifying training requirements to mitigate business risk related to human resource management. Lastly, the report will provide government stakeholders with validated data to assist in the development of policy at the municipal, provincial and federal level.”
Several industry specific factors will result in rapidly-changing labour-force requirements over the next 5 years: 1) Expected accelerated growth in renewable energy key sub-sectors 2) Transformation from “Legacy Systems” to the “Next Generation” of infrastructure that will expand, replace and refurbish most of Canada’s electricity infrastructure by 2030; 3) Continued high retirement rates of baby boomers, and 4) Heightened focus on carbon reduction and energy efficiency initiatives.
“Our government is helping build the innovative, skilled and qualified workforce that Canada needs to progress and prosper. The funding for this project will help the electricity industry address its skills requirements and prepare for the workforce of the future.” – The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.
It is anticipated that this LMI project will generate and provide the following outcomes:
- Statistically rigorous current labour supply and demand information for the industry suitable for use in a regulatory environment
- Essential planning information to industry stakeholders, including employers, labour, education and regulators, that adheres to current industry standards in a North American and global context
- Occupational forecast data that provides career seekers, career development providers, educational institutions and training providers with jurisdiction specific information to support and inform decision making
- Increased use of workforce planning methods by industry members
- Jurisdiction specific information that identifies critical occupations impacted by policy change and/or technology growth
Stakeholders from industry, education, government, labour and licensing bodies will provide input into this project through a National Advisory Committee. They include: Electricity Distributors Association (EDA)/Burlington Hydro, Ontario Power Generation, Cameco (Canadian Nuclear Association), National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO), College of New Caledonia, BC Hydro, Natural Resources Canada, Power Workers’ Union, Engineer’s Canada, Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT), NB Power, and Carleton University.
In tandem EHRC is working with stakeholders in Alberta to examine the impact of a rapidly changing landscape, including the increased focus on renewables and the impact this will have on employment in the sector. They include: Alberta Independent Electricity System Operator (AESO), AltaLink, Capital Power Corporation, Government of Alberta, IBEW Local Union 254, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), TransAlta, University of Calgary, ENMAX Corporation, Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), and Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA).