Aligning Jobs Training to the Opportunities and Demands of the Green Economy

Community and technical colleges are facing a critical moment as industries and employers begin to transition away from fossil fuels. A key challenge is aligning training for green jobs to expected workforce demand in local and regional economies. Colleges have begun to both develop entirely new programs of study and to adjust existing ones. As part of an applied research agenda to build knowledge and tools to support community colleges in preparing students for high-value jobs in the green economy—including those in energy production, construction, transportation, agriculture, and other fields—CCRC is partnering with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to conduct a one-year landscape study of green training programs at U.S. community colleges.

Researchers will analyze community college students’ entry into and completion of educational pathways in fields of study linked to green occupations, with the aim of showing how community and technical colleges are contributing to workforce education in a changing economy. Earlier stages of this project provided several examples of colleges expanding, adapting, and creating new programs to meet opportunities created by the green economy transition.

Solar Installation at Mountain Empire Community College

As trusted institutions, community and technical colleges can help their communities understand opportunities associated with green jobs. Mountain Empire Community College (MECC), located in southwest Virginia in the heart of coal country, launched a solar installer program in 2022. MECC President Kris Westover reported that program enrollment was initially low, partly because there were few solar installation jobs in the region and partly due to skepticism about green energy production. In response, Westover spent more time learning what resonated with her community when discussing the green energy transition. She eventually began presenting solar installation as a way for the region to continue its proud tradition in energy development. The college recently partnered with the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, a coalition of nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and businesses working to increase solar production in the region.

The Clean Energy Academy at LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College in Queens, New York, partnered with the Public Housing Community Fund and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to launch the Clean Energy Academy in August 2022. The academy is a 16-week green-jobs training program for NYCHA residents that gives them the opportunity to develop skills in solar installation, HVAC, and construction in order to access jobs in renewable energy with NYCHA contractors. The partnership prepares residents for careers in high-demand occupations that have arisen in response to climate change while providing talent for local employers.

Electrical and Automotive Technology at Hudson Valley Community College

While some new occupations will emerge across industries and regions, several community colleges have discovered that the best opportunities in a changing economy may be in fields where they already have established programs of study. Hudson Valley Community College, located in Troy, New York, modified existing applied technology programs to cross-train automotive technicians and electricians to work on electric and hybrid vehicles in addition to preparing workers for jobs in clean energy. Dr. Chris McNally, chair of the applied technologies department, reported that, prior to the change, the automotive technical services and the electrical programs were siloed and taught separate technical skills that were not recognized as transferable across occupational fields. The demand for trained technicians across industries prompted the college to think differently about the types of skills students should learn. Building off the automotive model, the department has taken a similar approach to developing a clean energy management AAS degree program, which equips students with both technical and business management skills.

A New Analysis of Green Training Programs

The analysis resulting from this ongoing project will be the first of its kind to report national-level statistics in response to questions such as how many community college students earn awards linked to green labor markets; how completion in these programs has changed over time; and how awards vary by demographic, regional, and economic characteristics. Insights from the study will help federal and state policymakers to identify sectors and regions where green jobs are increasing; partner more effectively with colleges in aligning training programs with state infrastructure needs; and support community and technical colleges to develop, modify, and expand programs in sectors where trained workers are in demand.