Opening Doors to Living Wage Careers 1 A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities of Tomorrow Supported by the National Network

Opening Doors to Living Wage Careers www.seattlejobsinitiative.com 1

A Growing Green Economy: A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities of TomorrowOpportunities of Tomorrow

Supported by the National Network of Sector Partners & the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development

Juliet ScarpaSeattle Jobs Initiative

April 30, 2009


OverviewOverview

▪ Policy & Legislation▪ Advocacy▪ Investment & Economic Development▪ Industry Sectors▪ Jobs▪ Labor Market Challenges▪ Workforce Preparation▪ Puget Sound Sector Focus: Energy Efficiency▪ Recommendations


Policy & LegislationPolicy & Legislation

▪ Federal▪ Energy Bill – Green Jobs Act of 2007 (HB 2847)▪ Clean Energy Corps (April 2009)

▪ Washington State▪ Climate Action & Green Jobs Bill of 2008 (HB 2815)▪ Evergreen Jobs Act of 2009 (HB 2227)

▪ King County▪ Motion 12837 (August 2008)

▪ City of Seattle▪ Green Building Capital Initiative (April 2009)


American Recovery & American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

▪ Workforce Investment Act▪ Additional $3.6B

▪ High Growth & Emerging Industry Sector Grants▪ $750M; $500M for Green Jobs Act of 2007

▪ Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants▪ Additional $3.2B

▪ Weatherization Assistance Program▪ Additional $5B

▪ State Energy Programs▪ Additional $3.1B


AdvocacyAdvocacy

▪ Green For All▪ www.greenforall.org

▪ Apollo Alliance▪ www.apolloalliance.org

▪ Green Jobs for America Campaign▪ www.sierraclub.org/greenjobs

▪ Blue Green Alliance▪ www.bluegreenalliance.org


Investment & Economic Investment & Economic DevelopmentDevelopment

▪ Federal Investments▪ ARRA - $92B in clean technology

▪ $33B in clean energy▪ $27B in energy efficiency

▪ Washington Business▪ Washington Clean Tech Alliance▪ Financial Incentive Programs

▪ Puget Sound Economic Development▪ Puget Sound Regional Council/Prosperity Partnership▪ enterpriseSeattle: Washington Energy Jobs Initiative


Industry SectorsIndustry Sectors

▪ Green Building

▪ Energy Efficiency

▪ Renewable Energy

▪ Recycling & Waste Management

▪ SmartGrid/Smart Energy

▪ Biofuels/Biomass

▪ Alternative Transportation

▪ Sustainable Agriculture


JobsJobs

▪ Green Jobs:▪ Direct positive impact on the environment

▪ Promote environmental protection and/or energy security

▪ Green-Collar Jobs:▪ Traditionally blue-collar industries▪ Cannot be outsourced▪ In healthy working environments▪ Pay good family-supporting wages▪ Provide opportunities for skill and wage

advancement

▪ Many new jobs, but mostly the old jobs with new skills


Green Jobs: ExamplesGreen Jobs: Examples▪ Green Building

▪ Constructionequipment operators

▪ Carpenters▪ Roofers

▪ Energy Efficiency▪ Electricians▪ HVAC installers▪ Energy auditors ▪ Insulation workers

▪ Renewable Energy▪ Iron and steel workers ▪ Sheet metal workers

▪ Recycling & Waste Management▪ Hazardous materials removal workers▪ Waste treatment plant operators


Green Jobs: ExamplesGreen Jobs: Examples▪ SmartGrid/Smart Energy

▪ Power engineers▪ Computer technicians▪ Building operators

▪ Biofuels/Biomass▪ Processing technicians▪ Industrial truck drivers

▪ Alternative Transportation▪ Bike repairers▪ Hybrid automotive maintenance

technicians▪ Welders

▪ Sustainable Agriculture▪ Organic farm workers▪ Green roof installers


Green Labor Market DemandGreen Labor Market Demand▪ Job opportunities will continue to grow▪ Many of these are middle-skill, middle-wage* jobs

King County 2009-2016

Carpenters 600+ new jobs

Electricians 450+ new jobs

Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters

360+ new jobs

HVAC mechanics & installers 150+ new jobs

Sheet metal workers 130+ new jobs

* Middle-skill jobs require more than a HS diploma but not a 4-year degree. Middle-wage jobs are middle-skill jobs that pay $17/hr + benefits.

Source: WA Employment Security Department


Labor Market SupplyLabor Market Supply

▪ Despite current economy, long term issues of quantity and quality loom.▪ Labor shortages across traditional blue-collar sectors due

to retirements, lack of interest, and lack of needed basic skills.


Puget Sound Puget Sound Green Workforce PreparationGreen Workforce Preparation

▪ Industry Skills Standards and Curriculum Development▪ Northwest Energy Efficiency Taskforce/Centralia Community College

Center of Excellence

▪ Skills Panels: Energy Technology; Power Generation; Green Building & Design

▪ Connecting Youth▪ Opportunity Greenway; SWITCH Project

▪ Pre-apprenticeships & Apprenticeships

▪ Community College Programs▪ Environmental Horticulture, Sustainable Building Management,

Sustainable Building Advisor, Residential Energy Auditing, Solar/Photovoltaic Designer, Zero Energy Building, Water Supply & Wastewater Technology, Energy Management, and others in various stages of development.


Sector Focus:Sector Focus:Energy Efficiency in Puget SoundEnergy Efficiency in Puget Sound

▪ Relatively low cost to implement methods

▪ Large, well established, and growing industry

▪ 69% of all green jobs in King County

▪ Majority of work requires construction, manufacturing and utilities industry skills.

▪ Northwest Energy Efficiency Workforce Opportunities Project (NEWOP)▪ Commercial and Residential Energy Efficiency Resource

Clearinghouse and Industry Intermediary▪ Pilot cohort-based training model in Residential Energy

Efficiency


Recommendations

▪ POLICY:▪ Federal & state legislation – funding and programs▪ Alignment with other strategies

▪ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:▪ Connect w/ industry stakeholders – growing/changing

business and workforce needs

▪ LABOR MARKET:▪ Current and future compositional challenges▪ Industry projections

▪ TRAINING:▪ Inventory capacity in existing programs▪ Skills standards as foundation of ‘greening’ programs▪ Partnerships for successful sectoral strategies


For more information:

Juliet ScarpaSenior Policy AnalystSeattle Jobs Initiative

206.628.6985

[email protected]

Documents

Opening Doors to Living Wage Careers 1 A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities of Tomorrow Supported by the National Network