EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE

Abstract

The development of the clean energy industry is commensurate with employment opportunities for the national workforce, and as the industry progresses it is vital that equity is ensured. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the current position of the clean energy workforce, and subsequently provide suggestions for increasing equity and expanding the industry in a way representative of the communities it serves. After consulting peer-reviewed articles and journals on the clean energy workforce, a series of partially- structured online interviews were conducted to focus on authentic interactions that individuals have observed in their experience with the clean energy industry and/or the local workforce. Along with prior research, conversations with several stakeholders were analyzed and multiple areas of the workforce that require specific focus were identified. The clean energy workforce operates on an individual basis, essentially in absence of communication between the government and local organizations working to implement clean energy. One key piece in increasing equity for the clean energy workforce involves outreach to underserved and marginalized communities. Increasing equity in the clean energy industry, the root of this research, demands the promotion of diversity as a core attribute of all organizations involved. The clean energy industry, at its origin with the Justice40 Initiative, aims to provide equitable opportunities and benefits. During the development of the clean energy workforce, orienting employers and stakeholders around the importance of recruiting diverse individuals in every position and ensuring that marginalized individuals are included is fundamental. The intense need for assistance in subsidizing the clean energy workforce requires increased awareness surrounding the benefits of implementation. The possibility of transitioning society into a more sustainable one is met directly with a hopeful workforce in search of a living wage.