Guide

Tracking Progress on Sustainable Jobs in Canada

A how-to guide

This guide supports monitoring and accountability for federal sustainable jobs efforts. Building on earlier research, it offers practical guidance on indicators and monitoring frameworks, draws on international interviews and case studies, and provides a detailed review of 19 proposed indicators to support transparent, evidence-based just transition policy in Canada.

By Simon Dünnenberger, Laura Cameron, Serene Parenteau on February 26, 2026

Policy Recommendations

  • Tracking progress on sustainable jobs is essential to sustaining public and worker support for the transition and informing the Sustainable Jobs Action Plan.

  • Effective monitoring strengthens accountability, improves decision making, and enables governments to course-correct when progress is off track.

  • Canada does not need to start from scratch. This guide draws on interviews with experts in countries at the forefront of just transition monitoring, including Scotland, South Africa, and Ireland.

  • Key recommendations from the report emphasize strong data collection and coordination, sharing lessons learned, transparency, and clear public communication.

Protecting and strengthening the well-being of workers and communities through the economy-wide transition away from fossil fuels is an incredibly complex challenge. Canada's federal sustainable jobs legislation sets up some key governance mechanisms to advance an equitable transition and create good, long-term jobs in low-carbon industries. Ensuring that policies are effectively progressing toward sustainable jobs goals and learning lessons to course-correct along the way are essential.

Guide details

Topic
Just Transition
Region
Canada
Impact area
Social Equity
Publisher
IISD
Copyright
IISD, 2026