On December 17, Sustainable Pittsburgh released Clean Energy Workforce: Needs and Opportunities for Southwestern PA, a comprehensive document that explores the opportunities and challenges in building a robust and equitable clean energy workforce in southwestern Pennsylvania.

This report reflects insights gathered over three years of stakeholder engagement, including contributions from the Clean Energy Workforce Roundtable, a regional network facilitated by Sustainable Pittsburgh aimed at aligning workforce development strategies with the growing demands of the clean energy sector.

Clean energy jobs in Pennsylvania experienced over four percent growth in 2022, expanding 1.5 times faster than the state's overall economy, according to the 2023 Clean Jobs PA report.  This number is expected to grow.

Federal investments have enabled southwestern Pennsylvania to leverage opportunities to create equitable jobs that also contribute to the region’s climate resilience.

“This report provides key findings that can guide strategy to ensure our region is equipped to meet the demand for clean energy workers while addressing systemic barriers to workforce participation,” said Joylette Portlock, Ph.D., Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Executive Director.

4 Key Challenges

As determined through stakeholder discussions and supported by many other research reports describing regional context, the report revealed four key challenges:

-- Improving Ecosystem Connectivity: To strengthen the region’s workforce development efforts, stakeholders must compete collaboratively for funding, build referral networks, and address gaps in services through shared knowledge and resources.

-- Enhancing Job Visibility and Accessibility: Many residents remain unaware of their potential contributions to the clean energy workforce. Increased awareness and accessible pathways are critical to drawing talent into this rapidly growing sector.

-- Addressing Employment Barriers: Challenges such as transportation, childcare, and other life circumstances must be addressed through integrated support systems to enable equitable workforce participation.

-- Expanding Training Opportunities: Direct connections between training programs, job seekers, and employers are essential to ensuring that workforce development efforts translate into meaningful employment.

Sustainable Pittsburgh expands upon these insights with tactical examples of solutions implemented locally and elsewhere, and highlights available opportunities within the regional context.

One tactical example related to enhancing clean job visibility and training pathways is currently under development for southwestern Pennsylvania.

Sustainable Pittsburgh has engaged tech firm Julius Education to build two career maps focusing on clean energy jobs in advanced manufacturing and the construction/electrical sector.

With functionality similar to IREC’s Career Maps, once published, these tools will enable an individual to visualize pathways across entry-, mid-, to advanced-level clean energy jobs, as well as learn about the expected wages, training and support services available.

The maps will reflect the growth of clean energy jobs specific to the region, and will target individuals from underrepresented communities and workers currently transitioning away from fossil-based energy jobs.

“The convenings of the Clean Energy Workforce Roundtable showcase the power of connectivity,” Portlock noted. “With insights from this report and continued sharing of information, together we can build an equitable workforce that not only supports the clean energy transition but also creates resilient, thriving communities.”

Click Here for a copy of the report.

Sustainable Pittsburgh invites regional leaders, employers, training organizations, policymakers, economic development agencies, residents, and other stakeholders to join ongoing efforts to position southwestern Pennsylvania as a leader in the clean energy economy.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Shared Energy Manager Program Accepting Applications For Energy Assessment, Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation Work With Local Governments, School Districts  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Accepting Applications For G.E.T. Solar Schools Technical Assistance Program To Help Apply For Solar For Schools, Other Funding  [PaEN]  

-- Coalition For Community Solar Access Applauds New Effort To Open Community Solar Market In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh: Report On Clean Energy Workforce - Needs And Opportunities For Southwestern PA  [PaEN] 

[Posted: December 17, 2024]

12/23/2024