Green Jobs & the Green Economyin New York City

October 28, 2010NYU School of Law

New York City

1

What is the New York City Labor Market Information Service (NYCLMIS)?

NYCLMIS is a joint endeavor of the New York City Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the Center for Economic Transformation at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the Center for Urban Research at CUNY’s Graduate Center.

What are our goals? Provide labor market analysis tools to inform and improve practice within the broader NYC workforce development community Be the portal for cutting-edge, timely labor market data about NYC Raise public awareness about issues affecting NYC’s labor market

How do we accomplish these goals? Framing, distilling, and synthesizing existing labor market data Undertaking original research Providing technical assistance and training

2

AgendaDefining Green Jobs and the Green Economy

Drivers of Green Job Growth

NYCLMIS Green Jobs Study

Green Jobs Research in other States

Greening of the World of WorkO*NET-SOC (February 2009)

The green economy encompasses the economic activity related to reducing the use of fossil fuels, decreasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the efficiency or energy usage, recycling materials, and developing and adopting renewable sources of energy.

12 Green Sectors

Renewable Energy GenerationEnergy Efficiency*Energy TradingResearch, Design and ConsultingAgriculture and ForestryRecycling and Waste Reduction

TransportationGreen Construction*Energy and Carbon CaptureEnvironment ProtectionManufacturingGovernment and Regulatory

Greening of the World of WorkThe “greening” of occupations refers to the extent to which green economy activities and technologies increase the demand for existing occupations, shape the work and worker requirements needed for occupational performance, or generate unique work and worker requirements.Three categories:•Green Increased Demand Occupations – 64 occupations. Work context may change, tasks themselves do not, e.g. bus driver, construction carpenter•Green Enhanced Skills Occupations – 60 occupations. Change to the work and worker requirements, e.g. civil engineer, plumber, landscape architect•Green New and Emerging Occupations – 95 occupations. New occupation, entirely new or “born” from an existing occupation, e.g. wind energy engineer, sustainability specialist, solar photovoltaic installer, fuel cell technician, energy auditor, carbon credit traders, recycling coordinator

Measurement and Analysis of Employment in the Green Economy

Workforce Information Council (October 2009) A green job is one in which the work is essential to products or services that improve energy efficiency, expand the use of renewable energy, or support environmental sustainability. The job involves work in any of these green economic activity categories:Renewable energy and alternative fuelsEnergy efficiency and conservationPollution, waste and greenhouse gas management, prevention and reductionEnvironmental cleanup and remediation and water clean-up and remediationSustainable Agricultural and natural resource conservationEducation, regulation, compliance, public awareness and training, and energy trading

Measurement and Analysis of Employment in the Green Economy

Workforce Information Council (October 2009) Key lessons from state surveys in Washington, Michigan, Oregon, CaliforniaNeed a clear definition of green jobsDefinition should be associated with a set of green economic activitiesDefinition should include a qualifier on the degree of the relationship, i.e. “work is essential to products and services.”Survey should specify a time periodSurvey instrument should provide clear examples of activities that might be considered green for each green economic activity.Scope of study must be clearly defined.Consider traditional labor market information as well as use of other studies, focus groups and other sources.

Defining and Collecting Information on Green Jobs

Bureau of Labor Statistics (September 2010)Definition of Green jobs: Green jobs are either:A. Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the

environment or conserve natural resources.B. Jobs in which workers’ duties involve making their establishment’s production

processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources.Categories of green jobs:Energy from renewable sourcesEnergy efficiencyPollution reduction and removal, greenhouse gas reduction, and recycling and reuseNatural resources conservationEnvironmental compliance, education and training, and public awareness

9

Drivers of Green Job Growth

Technology

EconomyPolicy

Technological Advances Solar/Photovoltaic (electricity) Solar/Thermal (heat, hot water) Wind Hydro Fuel Cells Battery storage SmartGrid Manufacturing from recycled materials Hybrid/electric cars and buses Recycled construction materials Building management system controls “Graywater” systems (using rainwater or water from domestic activities)

10

Economic Factors

Energy Prices Cost of traditional (fossil) fuels vs. cost of renewable technologies

Economic Downturn Construction Housing Higher unemployment (less disposable income)

Need for Investment in Start-up companies involved in “green” economic activities Retrofits for existing building and homes Green new construction

11

Major Policy Initiatives Affecting New York City’s Green Economy

New York City PlaNYC 2030 Greener, Greater Buildings Plan Local Law 86 (requirements for large construction projects) Con Edison Smart Grid Initiative Solar America Cities initiative

New York State Green Jobs, Green New York, funded through Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative 45x15 Initiative (Renewable Portfolio Standard) NYPA 100 MW Solar Photovoltaic Initiative

U.S. Green Jobs Act American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Weatherization Assistance Program

12

NYCLMIS Green Jobs Study Statewide partnership with NYSDOL, Stony Brook University,

University of Albany Working with local organizations involved in green jobs, e.g.

STRIVE, CWE, SEIU Local 32BJ, Solar One, Urban Green Council, Urban Agenda

Focused on 6 industry clusters Construction Energy and Environmental-related Manufacturing Electric power generation, transmission and distribution Professional Services Financial Services Building Services

Will ask employers about demand for green jobs workers Will assess supply of training and education vs. demand

13

Employer Survey 20,000 employers across New York State

All employers with 25 employees or more Sample of employers with less than 25 employees

On-line survey with paper survey option Preliminary results by February 2011, final report May 2011 Asks:

How many employees, by occupation, are working on “green” economic activities?

Do occupations require “enhanced” skills to produce “green” products and services?

What are source(s) of “enhanced” skill training for employees? Are “green” credentials preferred for employees? Which credentials? What are the “green” employment projections one year from now? Having any difficulty recruiting qualified “green” workers?

14

Additional Research Questions

For each key occupation involved in green economic activity: What are the specific tasks/responsibilities/work activities involved? What are the skill and knowledge requirements? What are the employer’s education and experience preferences? What credentials are preferred? required? What are the pay and benefits? What are some typical career trajectories/pathways/lattices? What is employee retention/turnover?

15

Additional Research QuestionsRecruitment/Retention: What are the major sources of recruitment for new employees? What recruitment methods and techniques do employers use to

find new employees in key occupations? Which recruitment methods and techniques are effective? Which

are not? Why? Are employers having difficulty finding or keeping qualified

applicants for key occupations? If so, what are the recruitment/hiring/retention challenges?

16

Key Employer Research QuestionsTraining: What are the methods and sources of training for new hires? What relationships and agreements are employers party to for the

training of employees? What is the employer interest in accessing education and training

programs, by type, e.g. on-the-job training, internships, apprenticeships, certificate programs, 2-year degree programs, 4-year degree programs, etc.?

What employer-sponsored training is provided in key occupations? What methods and sources are used to train existing employees in

new skills related to green economic activity?

17

Key Employer Research QuestionsOther: To what extent does the employer’s “green” workforce consist of

existing workers vs. the need to hire new employees with particular green skills or credentials?

What related industries employ people in these green occupations?

18

Supply-Side ResearchNon-degree training/education Collect information on green training and education programs

offered by adult & continuing education programs, private non-profit and community based organizations, private proprietary schools, labor organizations, credentialing organizations, etc.

Compare to information collected on employer demandDegree programs Community/2-year colleges and University/4-year+ colleges “Crosswalk” between O*NET-SOC and IPEDS (post-secondary education

data maintained by the U.S. Department of Education) by instructional program area (CIP codes).

Identify instructional programs in NYC in key green O*NET-SOC occupations.

19

Green Jobs Research in Other States California (2010)

3.8% of all workers are working on green products and services Three-quarters of current green workers were trained on the job Largest numbers of green jobs are in manufacturing, followed by construction,

professional, scientific and technical services, administrative, support and waste management and wholesale trade

Top green job was sustainable farmers and farmworkers Washington State (2009)

Approximately 100,000 “green” jobs –3.3% of the State’s employment. Energy efficiency accounts for over 50% of all green jobs. Most of these jobs

(70%) are in construction-related industries and occupations, followed by professional and technical services, such as architecture and engineering

Producing renewable energy accounted for less than 4,000 jobs. No new or unique occupational titles

20

Green Jobs Research in Other States Michigan (2009)

109,067 green jobs, or 3% of total Clean transportation and fuels represents 41% of total green jobs, followed by

23% increasing energy efficiency, 13% pollution prevention and environmental clean-up, 13% agriculture and natural resource conservation, and 9% renewable energy production

70% of employers said training would be at the workplace, as they look to upgrade current workers’ knowledge.

Oregon (2008) 51,402 green jobs, or 3% of employment Sector with largest green employment is construction (17%), followed by

wholesale and retail trade (16%), administrative and waste services (14%), natural resources and mining (11%), and professional and technical services (11%).

Blue collar occupations have greatest share of “green” jobs

21

Contact Information:Ronnie Kauder: rkauder@gc.cuny.edu

212.817.2036Lesley Hirsch: lhirsch@gc.cuny.edu

212.817-2031NYCLMIS

CUNY Graduate Center365 Fifth Avenue, Room 6202

New York, NY 10016www.urbanresearch.org

THANK YOU!

22

23

‘‘This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial  purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.’’