Update on Minnesota Green Job Vacancies Research

Alessia Leibert

Research Analyst, LMI, DEED

Alessia.Leibert@state.mn.us

May 13th 2010

LMI Green Jobs Grant

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant through Dept of Labor

• Research focused grant,18 months, $1.16 million

• Purpose: – Count the number of green job vacancies – Explore labor force gaps, specifically in

skills/knowledge/education requirements– Develop career information

What is a green job?

National Workforce Information Council:

A green job is one in which the work is essential to providing products or services that improve energy efficiency, expand the use of renewable energy, or support environmental sustainability. The job involves work in:– Renewable energy and alternative fuels – Energy efficiency and conservation – Pollution, waste and GHG management, prevention and reduction – Environmental cleanup and remediation and waste clean-up and

mitigation – Sustainable agriculture and natural resource conservation – Education, regulation, compliance, public awareness and training

and energy trading

LMI definition of green vacancies

Job vacancies that are directly engaged in any of the following:

• Environmental regulation, research, or advocacy• Sustainable agriculture or natural resource

conservation• Environmental cleanup• Energy efficiency• Renewable energy or alternative/clean fuels

What distinguishes our green research from others?

• Focus on vacancies, not size of the green economy

• Extensive work of validating employers’ responses through calls and research on job postings

Information gaps on green careers

Initial findings

• Total of 488 green job vacancies during fourth quarter 2009.

• Equivalent to1.8 percent of total job vacancies

• Found in – 57 NAICS industries– 60 SOC occupations

Industries with multiple green openings

Administration of Conservation Programs

Engineering Services

Plumbing/ HVAC Contractors (both residential and commercial)

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing

Electric Power Generation and Distribution

Air, Water and Waste Program Administration

Solid Waste CollectionWind turbine manufacturing and repair* (two NAICS)

New & Emerging green occupations?

• Total of 490 green job vacancies during fourth quarter 2009.

• Equivalent to1.9 percent of total job vacancies during the quarter.

• Found in – 46 NAICS industries– 57 SOC occupations

Conservation Planner Energy Engineer

Weatherization/Retrofit Installers and Technician

Recycling and Reclamation Worker

Water/Wastewater Engineer Lean Manufacturing Engineer

Supply Chain Manager Sustainability Coordinator

Green R&D Specialist Remediation Project Manager

Building Systems Technician Air Quality Control Specialist

Knowledge requirements - preliminary

• Energy-efficient building design, modifications to buildings, and manufacturing processes

• State/federal environmental regulations, policies, and/or permitting processes

• Scientific monitoring and measuring techniques

Skills requirements - preliminary

• Mechanical (HVAC, water/sewer systems, hydraulics)

• Project management

• Business acumen needed to develop demand in emerging markets and understand market potential of new technologies

Connections to other workforce development efforts/partners

• Inventory of post-secondary programs preparing students for green careers (MnSCU)

• Interactive map of programs, apprenticeships, and industry-recognized certifications (DOLI, OES)

• Career information will include four career pathways, 40 career profiles and 17 career videos (ISEEK)

Connections to other workforce development efforts

Skills\Knowledge taxonomies for potential use by:EMPLOYERS to determine the competencies needed by their future workforce either through recruitment or internal developmentEDUCATION PLANNERS to align curricula to business needsJOBSEEKERS and STUDENTS to get guidance on training and experience needed to enter or transfer into viable green occupations

Other LMI products and publications

Minnesota Economic TRENDS– Quarterly magazine on economic topics– Subscriptions available free of charge or on-line at:www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/publications/trends.htmwww.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/publications/trends.htm

Minnesota Employment REVIEW– Monthly magazine on economic data and regional

trends– Available exclusively on-line at:www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/publications/review.htmwww.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/publications/review.htm

E-mail Subscription Lists– Sign-up for periodic e-mails announcing new data

and publication releases at:www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/contact/mail.htmwww.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/contact/mail.htm