Growing and training a workforce with the skills to perform residential building decarbonization jobs is necessary for improving the energy efficiency and resiliency of homes in the United States. Recent federal and local building decarbonization commitments and actions are increasing the demand for energy auditors, HVAC technicians, heat pump installers, electricians, and construction workers. Between 2022 and 2023, 74,700 new energy-efficiency jobs were added, increasing the total workforce in this sector to 2.3 million. However, too few programs help individuals learn about and prepare for these jobs.

To respond to this demand and ensure that workforce education and training meet the needs of employers and provide professional development to workers, investments in the energy efficiency workforce development ecosystem are necessary. The ecosystem of interconnected stakeholders including workforce and education organizations, government agencies, credentialing agencies, policymakers, utilities, lenders, organizations providing wraparound services and soft skills, employers and learners—need to work cohesively to grow a robust workforce that can advance decarbonization efforts.

This report summarizes findings from interviews with 35 workforce experts, provides an overview of common workforce challenges, and profiles programs with demonstrated success in expanding the residential workforce. Additionally, it highlights actions that stakeholders in the energy efficiency workforce ecosystem (e.g., government agencies, utilities, training institutions, and community-based organizations) can consider as they prepare and train workers to deliver decarbonization projects that help homes reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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