Ontario needs a comprehensive understanding of the labour supply and demand challenges that will arise as it develops its clean hydrogen economy, according to a new report published today by the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII).

The report found that Ontario has an opportunity to be a leader in the growing hydrogen sector. But to do so, the province will need to prepare for workforce challenges including a shortage of skilled trades workers and a need for new safety designations and training.

Prepared by NII’s Bruce Power Centre for Next Generation Nuclear and titled The hydrogen jobs we'll need: Assessing demand, ensuring supply, the report outlines a two-pronged approach for crafting a unique, made-in-Ontario hydrogen talent strategy:

Convening a provincial hydrogen workforce council: soliciting early input from business leaders and industry experts, the council would be composed of industry, academia and government. The group would identify the jobs and skills required in a growing hydrogen ecosystem and evaluate workforce readiness.

Develop a plan to educate and certify skilled workers across the hydrogen value chain: ensuring an adequate supply of accredited, skilled workers involves a new set of standards, trainings, and designations. Ontario will need a strategy that leverages a diverse suite of educational tools, with opportunities for micro-credentialling and remote learning.

“As the hydrogen economy grows, private investment is going to prioritize jurisdictions that offer the right base of skills and talent,” said David Campbell, Director of the Centre for Next Generation Nuclear. “Ontario has an opportunity to be a global leader in clean hydrogen, but we will need to have the right workforce in place.”

The public can read the report here: http://bit.ly/NII-Reports-hydrogen-workforce.

And for a refresher on how hydrogen power is created and why many see it as a powerful tool to fight climate change, watch NII’s “Take a Moment to Better Understand Hydrogen” video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dF4MQNO6F8&feature=youtu.be

source: media release, NII