In 2023, CCRC launched the Building a Sustainable Future initiative to examine how community colleges are recruiting and training students for the “green economy.” In order to help colleges identify which credentials prepare students for green jobs in their regions, researchers conducted a national landscape study that assessed the alignment between occupational demand (as measured by job postings) and community college credential production in particular commuting zones. The study revealed that the green economy relies on many occupations that, while not narrowly defined as green, require similar technical competencies and are equally central to the future workforce.
This brief introduces an inventory of what the authors call advanced infrastructure, energy, and agriculture (AIREA) jobs. This classification encompasses traditional green roles—such as wind turbine technicians, solar photovoltaic installers, and environmental engineering technicians—as well as adjacent occupations shaped by changing energy and infrastructure demands, such as electrical line workers, construction managers, and industrial machinery mechanics. Using commuting zones as the unit of analysis, the authors identify areas where AIREA job availability and credential production appear to be well aligned. Insights from the study can help federal and state policymakers identify high-growth sectors and regions while supporting community and technical colleges in developing, modifying, and expanding programs in industries where trained workers are most needed.
View the related AIREA Data Explorer to see how AIREA job opportunities in particular commuting zones across the country have changed since 2010 and the number and type of AIREA credentials awarded at each of the nation’s community colleges.