Workforce - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Barrier 9: Workforce

Barrier Statement

The market of qualified workers necessary to construct and install clean energy projects and retrofits is not large enough, especially outside of major urban centers.

Filterable Database

How communities are experiencing this barrier

View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Statewide

California lacks coordinated, accessible, and high-quality education and training pipelines for clean-energy careers. Existing programs are fragmented, short-term, and poorly aligned with industry demand; many regions—especially underserved areas—lack nearby training opportunities. High schools, community colleges, and workforce programs often do not provide clear pathways into green jobs such as solar installation, heat pump work, or EV charging infrastructure.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Statewide

California faces a severe shortage of trained contractors and skilled workers—installers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and utility lineworkers—needed to meet growing demand for electrification, retrofits, DERs, and renewables. Many existing workers lack experience with emerging technologies and requirements (e.g., heat pumps, IRA compliance), slowing project delivery and limiting local capacity.

Key challenge discussed in - Inland Deserts, Statewide

The need to build local government capacity and workforce expertise in energy efficiency, building code implementation, and public sector sustainability projects—a gap that the Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN) is actively addressing.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles, Statewide

Long timelines for cities and institutions to adopt climate and workforce strategies: Workforce shifts are slowed by bureaucratic processes and long planning horizons. Cities can take years to adopt climate workforce strategies, making it hard to align training timelines. A disconnect between state-level goals and local planning capacity compounds delays, leaving smaller cities especially behind.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles, Statewide

Communities and youth often lack awareness that “green jobs are good jobs,” reflecting a persistent branding and marketing gap. Many young people and workers don’t view climate-related careers—such as solar design, retrofitting, or energy management—as stable or lucrative pathways compared to fields like tech or engineering. Participants emphasized the need to make green jobs “sexy, cool, and urgent” by investing in storytelling, branding, and outreach campaigns that tap into youth passion for climate action. Stronger marketing, comparable to private-sector examples like Tesla, is essential to elevate the visibility and appeal of green careers.

Local Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Local Solution

Align Training Programs With Local Clean Energy Job Demand. Local governments can partner with CCAs, RENs, unions, workforce boards, and employers to co-design training programs aligned with local electrification needs. Regional steering committees and subject-matter experts can help ensure training is coordinated, job-connected, and responsive to emerging technologies and market demand.

Existing Examples of Progress:

1. Southern California Green Jobs Regional Partnership brought employers and trainers together to coordinate workforce pipelines. They ensured disinvested communities could access jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities. They produced a green jobs report identifying gaps and opportunities in the region. 2. The Veterans Green Jobs Programs (from 2009) was an early pilot program connecting veterans to green jobs opportunities. They helped workforce boards eventually incorporate “green collar jobs” into their offerings.

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Inland Deserts, Statewide

Local Solution

Strengthen Local Contractor Capacity and Participation. Local governments can coordinate with available contractors and provide technical assistance, education, and incentives to help emerging and existing contractors navigate permitting, incentives, and compliance; adopt new technologies (e.g., heat pumps, EV charging); and increase participation in residential and community-scale electrification projects.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Statewide

Local Solution

Use city-led retrofit projects (fleets, facilities, resilience hubs) as hands-on training opportunities. Cities can collaborate with contractors and workforce programs so that local electrification projects directly support skill-building.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, Statewide

State Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

State Solution

Strengthen and standardize statewide high-road labor and training requirements for clean-energy and electrification jobs—including prevailing wage, apprenticeship pathways, and consistent training standards—to ensure a reliable, well-prepared workforce and high-quality project delivery.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles

State Solution

Invest in cross-trade workforce development programs (plumbing, HVAC, solar, roofing, etc.).

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles, Statewide

State Solution

Work with labor unions to expand pathways into residential electrification and distributed energy projects.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles, Statewide

Solution Spotlight

IREN Workforce Development

I-REN focuses on public sector programs, building code enhancement, and workforce development in the Inland Empire. IREN launched its fellowship program dedicated to building capacity and energy comprehension within local public agencies in 2023. In 2024, it has placed 25 fellowship interns in the Inland Empire for energy efficiency projects.

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Additional Resources

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