Workforce Education & Resources

“The U.S. buildings sector needs qualified workers to design, build, install, operate, and market energy efficient buildings and technologies as part of a net-zero carbon economy. State-of-the-art education and training programs can prepare workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to maximize energy and cost savings in residential and commercial buildings. Ensuring career pathways for a diverse and qualified green buildings workforce will enable high performance buildings nationwide.”

EEA's Workforce Activities

The Inflation Reduction Act alone is projected to create almost 100,000 new energy efficiency jobs in the United States over the next decade. Finding and training skilled workers to fill those jobs is one of the greatest obstacles and most promising growth avenues facing Pennsylvania and New Jersey’s energy efficiency industry. EEA addresses this challenge by:

  • educating decision-makers about effective and replicable workforce strategies,
  • sharing frontline success stories about workforce development,
  • convening gatherings among workforce groups and experts to maximize information sharing,
  • and providing industry insight and technical support to workforce development programs.

Workforce Development: The Clean Energy Challenge in Southwest PA (March 2023)

The Energy Efficiency Alliance, Sustainable Pittsburgh, and E2 brought together workforce development stakeholders from across Southwest PA for their March 2023 Pittsburgh event, “Workforce Development: The Clean Energy Challenge in Southwest PA.”

Attendees heard about about how a neighboring region is finding success, and what community groups, prospective workers, training and workforce development agencies, employers, and government officials are saying about workforce challenges. The half-day workshop focused on overcoming fragmentation by building fresh ideas, connections, and coordination to achieve our goal.

Featuring: Coalfield Development, E2 Pennsylvania, Sustainable Pittsburgh, EEA, PA DEP, Clean Energy Center, PA Foundation of Fair Contracting, Homewood Children’s Village, Partner4Work, Duquesne Light Company, Energy Independent Solutions, Eaton, and ACTION Housing.

EEA's Workforce Partners:

E2 (e2.org)

Sustainable Pittsburgh (sustainablepittsburgh.org)

Education & Resources

Facts and Figures:

From the Energy Efficiency Alliance:

Workforce Development for Energy Efficiency in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
August 2022, Prepared by M.S. Sustainability Management Candidates at Columbia University for EEA

This report uses interviews and case studies to identify workforce development resources, gaps, and recommendations in both states.

Training Centers

Training Resources

Federal & State Educational Materials

Executive Order 2023-03 – Creating Opportunities by Prioritizing Work Experience for State Government Jobs

Governor Shapiro Signs Executive Order Creating New, First-in-the-Nation Workforce Training Program to Take Advantage of Historic Federal Infrastructure Funding (July 2023)

PA DEP Reports
           2023 Energy Efficiency Workforce Needs
           2022 Pennsylvania Energy Employment
           2022 Pennsylvania Clean Energy Employment
           2021 Pennsylvania Energy Employment
           2021 Pennsylvania Clean Energy Employment
           2021 Pennsylvania Clean Energy Industry Workforce Development Needs Assessment & Gap Analysis

New Jersey

The New Jersey Career Connections website provides resources and direct support for job seekers and for businesses looking to hire.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development offers grants to eligible businesses looking to hire. Click here for a complete list of grant programs.

The New Jersey Apprenticeship Network connects career seekers, employers, and training providers. Apprenticeship is a career pathway comprised of learn-while-you-earn and educational/instructional components. For apprentices, apprenticeship is a job and an opportunity to learn specialized skills that lead to permanent, sustaining careers. For employers, apprenticeship is an opportunity to develop a future workforce that is nimble, educated, and trained to your specifications and needs.

On-the-Job Training (OJT) incentives are designed to compensate employers for the time spent training new employees. These programs also strengthen New Jersey’s workforce by training workers to succeed in today’s labor market.

The New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development provides employers with skills training for incumbent or prospective employees. At the same time, the Consortium helps veterans, the unemployed and the underemployed get the training they need to find good jobs and careers with companies that need their skills.

Workforce Development on Energy Efficiency Stories

EnergyEfficiencyStories.org is a growing database of stories from New Jersey and Pennsylvania showing the economic, social, and environmental benefits of energy efficiency. And some of those stories are about workforce development! Check out these highlights: 

Visit EnergyEfficiencyStories.org to see more energy efficiency stories!

Have a story to share? Use our submissions page.

Webinars

Shaping the Pennsylvania Clean Energy & Efficiency Workforce Future

An August 2023 webinar hosted by the Energy Efficiency Alliance

EEA, E2, the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, and Sustainable Pittsburgh are proud to partner on a workforce development webinar focused on Shaping the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Workforce Future. This fast-paced virtual event will feature several presenters—including DEP Secretary Richard Negrin and PUC Commissioner Kathryn Zerfuss—along with interactive opportunities for attendees to ask questions.

Pennsylvania recently welcomed a slate of new administrative leaders, poised to help the Commonwealth’s business community capitalize on both the relentless transition to a cleaner energy future and new federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. But that business community also faces significant workforce shortages. Join us as we address the state of readiness of our workforce for the next phase of the clean energy transition.

Hosted by the Energy Efficiency Alliance (EEA, www.energyefficiencyalliance.org), Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2, www.E2.org), the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia (www.sbnphiladelphia.org), and Sustainable Pittsburgh (sustainablepittsburgh.org).

Still Much Work to Do: the National Energy Literacy Survey Webinar

A November 2023 webinar hosted by the Energy Efficiency Alliance and the National Energy Foundation

How well prepared are Pennsylvania and New Jersey’s young people for the energy transition? Recent data from the National Energy Literacy Survey indicate there is much to be done. Attitudes, knowledge and behaviors have all declined significantly since the first Survey five years ago. Gary Swan from the National Energy Foundation will share results and suggestions for what utilities and other energy efficiency industry players can do.

Click here to learn more about the National Energy Literacy Survey.

Click here to download slides from this presentation.

Diversify or Die: Is Your Supply Chain Ready for Success?​​

A March 2023 webinar hosted by the Energy Efficiency Alliance

In surveys and meetings, the message we’ve heard from energy efficiency businesses is clear: diversifying your supply chains is a top priority in 2023. You’ve asked for practical, on-the-ground advice and support—and our 1:30 pm webinar on March 15 delivered!

Stop worrying about the challenges of meeting your clients’ DEI goals and instead start your intentional journey toward a diverse supply chain. Learn about enhancing competitiveness, reducing risk, and delivering economic value to your firm and customers while increasing outreach and building relationships.

Featuring speakers from Franklin Energy, Evergy, and Kiewit.