TORONTO, ONTARIO (June 24, 2021) – Prince’s Trust Canada, a national charity focused on creating a sustainable future for Canada, is pleased to share initial findings of an international survey on the ‘Future of Work’, in conjunction with Prince’s Trust group of charities, supported by HSBC. The research, released on June 23rd by the Prince’s Trust group of charities, outlines how young people around the world want to be agents of change in efforts to prevent and adapt to climate issues.
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales joined a roundtable discussion with business leaders including signatories of the Terra Carta initiative at St. James’s Palace in London, UK yesterday (June 23), to discuss the role business can play in supporting young people into the green jobs of the future.
“Young people, at the end of the day, want to be agents of change in efforts to prevent and adapt to the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis and for what it’s worth, I believe it is our responsibility to help them achieve this, if we possibly can. Over the past 46 years now, my Trust has been able to help over a million young people to transform their lives, and to start careers and launch businesses and we now work in eighteen countries around the world.”
– HRH The Prince of Wales
Young job seekers are facing one of the most turbulent times in living memory. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted their lives, their education, and their career aspirations; and they are facing significant changes to the world of work due to technological, demographic and climate change.
International highlights:
- 78% of young people believe their generation can create solutions to some of society and the world’s biggest challenges.
- 74% would be interested in a green job which helps tackle climate change despite only 3% having their main job in the sector.
- 81% would consider whether the job has a positive impact on the community and wider world.
- 77% would consider the environmental impact of the company or sector when choosing a job.
Canadian highlights:
- In Canada, 64% of young people polled said they have an interest in a green job which helps tackle climate change despite only 2% having their main job in the sector.
- In Canada, of the young people polled said working in the green economy (44%), health and social care (43%) are seen as the most likely ways to have a positive impact on the community and the wider world.
In April 2022, Prince’s Trust Canada will be launching a new sustainability strategy focused on careers in the green economy. Prince’s Trust Canada is currently developing new programming to support green economy employment and training for young adults (between 18 and 30 years of age) in urban nature and forestry, tree planting and green trades. While Canada’s employed labour force shrank in 2020, the environmental workforce increased by roughly 5%. It’s estimated that job growth and retirements in the environmental sector will account for 173,000 job openings in Canada by 2025.1
“As we continue to work towards our vision of creating a sustainable future for young jobseekers in Canada, we are acutely aware of the barriers to employment, and we are steadfast in our commitment to developing programs to help overcome those barriers,” said Sharon Broughton, Chief Executive Officer, Prince’s Trust Canada. “With the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as our guide, and the vision of HRH The Prince of Wales as our inspiration, we are helping people in Canada prepare for, and contribute to a sustainable future.”
Young jobseekers in Canada, particularly those facing multiple barriers to employment, must navigate compounding challenges such as technological disruption which creates demand for new skills, while making others obsolete. As young jobseekers look to make long term investments in education and/or training paths, a blurred vision of future work and opportunity is an example of some of the barriers to employment they may also face. An unclear career path leading to employment in the green conomy may also have contributed to lower Canadian percentages in ‘The Future of Work’ survey results.
“I’m a first-year environmental student and I was curious about all the industries and corporations I could work for in green jobs. The program connected me to others in the industry and provided feedback on how to grow my skills. I never thought about green jobs in the heart of the city, it made me realize I could work downtown.”
– Program Participant, Prince’s Trust Canada Explore Green Careers
“I was fortunate to be a beneficiary of Prince’s Trust as a teenager,” said John McCalla-Leacy, Partner and Board Member at KPMG UK. “Support from Prince’s Trust was pivotal, as it helped me to excel in sports, in my studies and in life. I know first-hand the transformational benefits Prince’s Trust has on young people and it’s why I, along with KPMG UK, are delighted to support our young leaders of tomorrow and their pursuit of a sustainable future through HRH The Prince of Wales’s charitable initiatives.
Later this summer, The Prince’s Trust group of charities will publish the final report on the HSBC-sponsored ‘Future of Work’ project.
Polling conducted by YouGov:
Canada: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1002 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th – 24th April 2021. The survey was carried out online.
Merged: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 6073 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th – 24th April 2021. The survey was carried out online.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Prince’s Trust Canada
Prince’s Trust Canada is a national charity whose vision is a sustainable future for Canada, where young people and communities thrive. Through innovative partnerships and guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our programs help young people overcome barriers to employment and prepare for the future of work, provide entrepreneurship training and support for Veterans, and address climate change mitigation and adaptation. Our work is inspired by our Founder and President, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and is driven by his vision for a more sustainable future.
Further information is available at princestrust.ca
About Prince’s Trust Group
Established in 2018, The Prince’s Trust Group includes the work of The Prince’s Trust in the UK alongside a group of charities including: Prince’s Trust International, Prince’s Trust Australia, Prince’s Trust New Zealand, Prince’s Trust Canada and most recently Prince’s Trust America. The Prince’s Trust Group supports young peoples to access education, employment and self-employment in Australia, Barbados, Canada, Greece, India, Jordan, Malta, New Zealand, and Pakistan. As of 2019-20, Prince’s Trust Group is also supporting young people in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, and Malaysia.
Further information is available at princestrustglobal.org
About the Terra Carta
The Terra Carta is a charter to put sustainability at the heart of the private sector. Launched by HRH The Prince of Wales in January 2021, as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, The Terra Carta (Earth Charter) will provide a roadmap to 2030 for businesses to move towards an ambitious and sustainable future; one that will harness the power of nature combined with the transformative power, innovation and resources of the private sector.
Further information is available at www.sustainable-markets.org/terra-carta
Media Contact:
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