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OTTAWA, Canada, November 29, 2006 (Refocus
Weekly)
Total employment in Canada’s wind energy industry
will more than quadruple within the next five years, according to an
industry survey.
The domestic industry employed 722 people last year, according to
the 2006 ‘Wind Industry Economic Impact Survey’ conducted by
Insightrix Research for the Canadian Wind Energy Association. By
this year, total direct employment was 1,200 full-time equivalents
(FTE), of which 360 are support and 850 are non-support staff.
By 2011, the industry expects to employ 5,300 FTEs, divided 2,100
and 3,200 between support and non-support staff. The largest
component will be 1,800 labourers and tradespeople, representing a
seven-fold increase from this year.
The wind energy industry contributed $736 million to Canada’s Gross
Domestic Product last year, based on responses from 174 corporate
members. That is up from $438 million reported last year, and
includes $444 million in total direct and indirect impacts, and $292
million from total induced impacts. Payroll expenditures (including
benefits) last year were $48 million, rising to an estimated $216
million this year.
“It is clear that wind energy has begun to move from the margins to
the mainstream of Canadian economic activity,” says Robert Hornung
of CanWEA. “With provincial governments seeking a ten-fold increase
in installed wind energy capacity in Canada over the next decade, we
have only just begun to scratch the surface of wind energy’s
potential economic contribution to Canada.”
Last year, the global wind energy industry was responsible for
US$14,000 million in direct investment and directly employed 150,000
people.
“Wind energy represents a tremendous industrial development
opportunity for Canada and we are now starting to see some of the
potential benefits,” says Hornung.
Of the respondents, 47% have not pursued business in other countries
while 39% have pursued business in the U.S., 20% in western Europe,
16% in Asia and 15% have sought business in Latin America and the
Caribbean. Looking forward, 45% do not anticipate pursuing business
in other countries within the next three years.
Over the last five years, Canada’s installed wind energy capacity
has grown by an annual average of 38%, the report notes. The
domestic industry remains largely Canadian, private-sector based,
with 80% of respondents indicating that they are privately-held
companies, and 85% with head office in Canada.
“It is apparent that the industry’s growth is translating into
increased revenues and expenditures, with overall industry
profitability (revenue exceeding expenditures) by 14%,” it notes.
“The trend appears likely to continue in the future as respondents
are generally optimistic for future growth, anticipating 80% to 100%
increases in expenditures and revenues, respectively, in the next 12
months. “
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