Green Careers and Education In Minnesota Julie Remington Green Outreach & Training Coordinator Office of the Chancellor Kate Aitchison Labor Market Analyst Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
Background: In December 2009, DEED received a $1.15 million Labor Market Information Improvement grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration
The grant goals were to: Study green jobs and training in Minnesota Disseminate the findings to broad audiences, such as career changers, job seekers, dislocated workers, students, and career counselors.
The primary grant partners included: With involvement from many others: Minnesota Department of Commerce Minnesota State Colleges and University system Twin Cities RISE! Minnesota green employers and organizations Minnesota Career Information System
First, what is green? Green jobs have a direct or essential impact on a product, service, or process that results in environmental benefits. An energy-efficient window is a green product because it helps save energy. Water quality tests are green services because they help identify hazardous pollutants in lakes and streams. Green processes involve creating more efficient ways of doing things through supply chain analysis or other techniques.
Grant projects and deliverables - Research study on green jobs - Green post-secondary programs identified - 50+ green career profiles - 20 green career videos - Online career pathway tools - Minnesota Green Careers website
Research Study on Green Jobs Period: Dec 2009 May 2011 (four survey rounds) Methodology: Builds off Minnesota Job Vacancy Survey Adds telephone interview on each potentially green job to: confirm the environmental activities of each position. gather qualitative information on skill and knowledge requirements, job duties, and hiring difficulty. Adds in-depth interviews with key companies in key sectors.
Green Job Vacancies by Sector Overall, about 2.5% of job openings in Minnesota are green, totaling about 3,800 openings during the four survey rounds.
Regional Distribution of Green Job Vacancies*...but proportionally the Central, Southwest and Northeast regions had the highest shares of green job vacancies. * Methodological limitations to regional comparisons
Distribution of Green Job Vacancies by Sector and Region, Fall 2009-Spring 2011
Green Job Vacancy Trends 87% found within the private sector (75% corporation, 12% non-profit), 13% public sector 66% found in companies with fewer than 50 employees, (compared to 39% of all vacancies) 54% reported for newly created positions (rather than replacements)
Top 25 Green Vacancies Green Vacancies for Top 25 Occupations, Fall 2009-Spring 2011 Roofers HVAC and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wind Turbine Service Technicians Environmental Engineers Marketing Managers First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Sales Representatives, Technical and Scientific Products Electricians Production Workers, All Other (recycling and reclamation) Mechanical Engineers Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers Conservation Scientists Electrical Engineers Chemical Engineers Forest and Conservation Workers Environmental Scientists and Specialists Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Chemists Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Mechanical Engineering Technicians Industrial Engineers Environmental Science and Protection Technicians 0 50 100 150 200 250
Educational Characteristics of Green Vacancies Education Categories Green Vacancies All Vacancies H.S./GED degree or less 37.0% 51% Vocational degree 22.0% 9% Associate s degree 6.3% 60% 6% 35% Bachelor s degree 32.0% 20% Advanced degree 2.5% 5% No response 0.2% 8%
Skills in Green Percent of Vacancies Example of how the skill is applied in practice requiring the skill Supervising 20% Manage and schedule work for staff and subcontractors Project Management 21% Development and implementation of land management plans for a small eco-region Mathematics 61% Analyze emissions data for greenhouse gas inventories Technology design 12% Design and test HVAC equipment for facilities or buildings. Technical (operating and monitoring equipment, quality evaluation/testing, process and product design) 69% Redesign a manufacturing process to reduce waste; use specialized tools to diagnose and repair wind turbines. Information Technology 3% Program computers and develop software for HVAC or smart grid systems.
Soft Skills in Green Learning life-long motivated learners Communication collaboration, interpersonal comm. Problem Solving combines creative thinking & technical knowledge Persuasion influence change, handle conflict
Additional Findings & Resources http://www.positivelyminnesota.com/data_publications/data/green_jobs/ Green Occupations Green Industries Skills and Knowledge in Green Handouts, presentations Final report and other publications
Overview of completed grant projects and deliverables - Research study on green jobs - Green post-secondary programs identified - 50+ green career profiles - 20 green career videos - Online career path tools - Minnesota Green Careers website
Green Post-Secondary Program Inventory Offered in a print version, and online
Over 50 Green Career Profiles
20 Green Career Videos
Online (and Print) Career Pathway Tools
Minnesota Green Careers Website
Contact: Education & Career Information Questions Julie Remington Green Outreach & Training Coordinator Office of the Chancellor Julie.Remington@so.mnscu.edu Labor Market Information Questions Kate Aitchison Labor Market Analyst Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development Kate.Aitchison@state.mn.us