Calgary, AB – ECO Canada, the steward for Canada’s environmental workforce, is set to help build digital skill capacity for youth in the environmental sector thanks to a new wage funding program supported by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
ECO Canada is one of several delivery organizations of ISED’s Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) program, which connects post-secondary graduates with job opportunities with small-to-medium-sized businesses and non-profit organizations.
Through ECO Canada’s expansive network, new graduates wanting to apply their digital skills will be able to start their careers with environmental employers, including organizations developing cleantech solutions, or those focusing on sustainability.
“Organizations in all sectors need new workers with digital skills, especially environmental employers. Cleantech, in particular, is a promising sector that will benefit tremendously from the Digital Skills for Youth program,” said Kevin Nilsen, President and CEO of ECO Canada. “For Canada to have a thriving, competitive, and innovative cleantech industry, we need digitally skilled workers to be part of the movement.”
ECO Canada has received $5.8M in wage funding through DS4Y to facilitate 280 placements for post-secondary graduates in environmental jobs that require digital abilities, such as computer programming, digital marketing, software development, IT, and data management. This program is the first of its kind and will help funnel graduates with digital skills training into careers with environmental employers.
Organizations in all sectors need new workers with digital skills, especially environmental employers. Cleantech, in particular, is a promising sector that will benefit tremendously from the Digital Skills for Youth program – Kevin Nilsen, President and CEO of ECO Canada
Our government is working hard to ensure our youth have the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital economy. Partnerships with organizations such as ECO Canada also enable our government to help build Canada’s environmental workforce and position Canada as a global leader in environmental innovation and clean technology,” said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “The Digital Skills for Youth program will help participants gain real-life experience and valuable skills to contribute to future employers who are striving to innovate and succeed in an ever-changing landscape.”
Historically, ECO Canada has helped direct more than $50M in wage funding and create more than 8,500 jobs to support the growth of the environmental workforce in a broad range of sectors. SMEs looking to hire can learn more about the DS4Y program on the ECO Canada website.
For more information on ECO Canada, please visit www.staging2.eco.ca.
-ENDS-
Contact:
Heidi Gammuac
(403) 399-2514
heidi@theagencyinc.ca
About ECO Canada:
ECO Canada is the steward for the Canadian environmental workforce. From job creation and wage funding to training and labour market research – we champion the end-to-end career of an environmental professional. Our aim is to promote and drive responsible, sustainable economic growth within the industry while also ensuring that environmental care and best practice is a priority. Over the past 25 years, we have forged the academic partnerships, tools, and research to not only train and certify environmental job seekers, we also help to fill the labour market
