Aboriginal Participation in the Environment Industry Appears to Be Increasing

ECO Canada regularly conducts a survey of Canadian environmental employers so that it can better understand sector needs.

In 2004, ECO Canada released the Environmental Labour Market (ELM) Report.  The primary objective of the 2004 ELM study was to “develop an understanding of current and future human resource needs of organizations employing environmental practitioners and to investigate the ways in which these needs have evolved.”  Part of the report provided a profile of environmental practitioners and found that only 2% of environmental employees were Aboriginal.

A second report is due to be released in the fall of 2008, but preliminary numbers indicate that Aboriginal participation in the environment industry has increased from 2% - 3.1%.  This is great news for environmental employers looking to fill a growing labour shortage with experienced Aboriginal practitioners.

To download ECO Canada’s labour market reports, visit www.eco.ca and click on “Publications.” 

Support Aboriginal Youth and Environmental Careers!

BEAHR is currently recruiting sponsors to contribute to our sixth annual Aboriginal EnviroCareers Calendar Contest. Support Aboriginal youth across Canada as they explore environmental careers! As a sponsor, you will receive community recognition as a company that supports Aboriginal youth and community development initiatives.

The deadline for sponsorship is August 1, 2008. For more information, or to become a sponsor, contact Kirsten Ryder at info@beahr.com.