The Biden Administration and Congress need to take action on key recommendations about how to prepare the workforce for an inclusive and prosperous green economy. A new report from a national roundtable of experts identified four crucial priorities. 

Policymakers and program creators need to address these priorities now to stimulate rapid growth of a robust green economy that will include good-paying jobs and healthier home and work environments:

1. Improve employer-education connections,
2. Update workforce curricula,
3. Increase workforce enrollment and participation, and
4. Increase market demand for green products and processes.

The National Roundtable on Workforce for an Inclusive and Green Economy report contains a lot of information that contractors can utilize while advocating for a green and inclusive workforce when working with their local, regional, and Federal government. “There are many insights in this report that can give you an idea of what’s coming and how you can prepare for it,” said Debra Rowe, President of the US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and co-author of the report. “If you’re not advocating for your industry, you should be. This report can help.” she added.

The report noted that addressing these four identified issues is integral to bridging gaps in the existing green workforce system, which slows the industry’s momentum toward creating a stronger economy. Additionally, they urged the Administration to take steps to increase the focus on equity, access, inclusion and amplification for underserved community members. This means including communities in the design of energy and sustainability programs to ensure community buy-in, addressing barriers to accessing program benefits, and providing mentoring programs for historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged communities.

The national roundtable was organized by the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE), its Sustainability Education and Economic Development Center (SEED), and the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) with support from the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN). A variety of industry stakeholders, including the Building Performance Association (BPA) and the Building Performance Institute (BPI), were convened to provide guidance on what government agencies, employers, certification organizations, unions, higher education institutions, and workforce education agencies should do in order to support and streamline green workforce development. “Contractors across the country are desperate to find qualified workers to meet the burgeoning demand for services,” said Larry Zarker, CEO of BPI. “This roundtable report provides a roadmap for the training and credentialing needed to meet this demand,” he said.

“This report includes crucial insights and recommendations for the workforce education we need for the US economy. Policy makers, governmental program designers and educational professionals will especially benefit from using these ideas,” noted Rowe. 

To engage with the Roundtable, contact Debra Rowe at: debrarowe@aya.yale.edu. 

Visit the SEED website to read the Key Takeaways and the full report.