As cities and regions shift to renewable energy and energy-efficient systems, new job opportunities are emerging. At the same time, understanding the workforce needs of this transition is critical to ensuring that communities—especially those facing economic challenges—can have a chance at some of those job opportunities . Additionally, current skill sets will often align with those jobs.
A BBER analysis sheds light on the skills, roles, and workforce needs that will be required for supporting this clean energy transition locally. The study’s findings reveal both opportunities and challenges for developing a workforce prepared to contribute to sustainable energy solutions.
Clean energy initiatives rely on a diverse range of occupations. For example, the BBER analysis identified 25 different geothermal and energy efficiency-related (GEER) occupations. These are the jobs most likely to be needed for energy-efficient heating and cooling efforts, now or in the future.
Notably, many of these jobs exist outside what we typically think of as the clean energy sector. Some of the most critical occupations identified in our analysis align with traditional construction and maintenance roles. For example, HVAC mechanics, plumbers, and electricians are some of the positions most important for installing and maintaining geothermal or energy-efficient systems but are not necessarily thought of as green jobs. Occupations in retail sales and customer service are also critical for renewable energy projects. This overlap highlights how the clean energy transition has been building on existing workforce expertise in many instances rather than creating entirely new job categories.
In the Duluth Metropolitan Statistical Area (Duluth and Superior along with the counties of St. Louis, Carlton, Douglas, and Lake), several of the occupations are expected to see local employment growth of more than 10% in the coming decade. These include carpenters (13% growth projected); electricians (15%); machinists (14%); and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) installers (13%). On the other hand, several GEER occupations are expected to see declines in employment. These include customer sales reps (-13%), roofers (-11%), and insulation workers (-28%).
While clean energy projects offer significant employment potential, barriers to those jobs remain for many communities. For example, the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Duluth—the focus area for the BBER’s study—faces higher unemployment, poverty, and lower educational attainment than other parts of the city. These challenges highlight the need for targeted workforce development efforts that address local socio-economic disparities.
For individuals in low-skill, low-wage jobs, clean energy initiatives provide an opportunity for career advancement. The BBER identified several promising career pathways for Lincoln Park residents by analyzing the compatibility between the neighborhood’s most common occupations and the GEER occupations.
Of the GEER occupations, plumbers have the highest median hourly wage, earning $40.56 an hour in the Duluth MSA. Of the 15 most common occupations in Lincoln Park, two fields—construction laborers and heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers—would both make good potential source occupations for a career as a plumber. An individual moving from one of the two source occupations would see a significant wage increase by moving into the field. Some of the other potential career pathways are moving from a light truck driver to a career as a weatherization tech, moving from a retail salesperson job into a career as a building inspector, or moving from a career as a heavy and tractor trailer truck driver into a career as an electrician. In some cases, the career transition could potentially double an individual’s hourly wage.
Success in clean energy jobs requires a combination of technical and transferable skills. Key knowledge areas include:
- Mechanical systems: Understanding how machines and tools work.
- Building and construction principles: Knowing how to design and maintain energy-efficient structures.
- Mathematics: Applying mathematical reasoning to solve problems.
- Customer service: Engaging effectively with clients.
Critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication are among the most important skills, while abilities like near vision and deductive reasoning play a significant role in many technical tasks. Training programs that emphasize these competencies can help workers transition into clean energy roles successfully.
Union apprenticeship programs in Minnesota are one example of how training can align with workforce needs. By incorporating renewable energy and efficiency technologies into their curricula, these programs prepare workers for careers that bridge traditional industries and clean energy systems. Expanding such opportunities to include more entry-level and disadvantaged workers can maximize the benefits of the clean energy economy.