Research shows that historical investments from new federal laws could present an opportunity for states to build a diverse workforce in these sectors.
Washington, D.C. (June 26, 2024) – New analysis commissioned by National Skills Coalition (NSC) and the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA), shows that combined historic investments in clean energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure from three new federal laws—the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act—will create over 190,000 jobs per year combined in Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, and Oregon over the next decade. With this level of new job creation, NSC and BGA are calling for investments in education, training, and support to ensure workers in these states will be equipped with the skills they need to succeed.
The research, conducted by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, also reveals that a majority of the jobs directly created by the three investments will be available to workers without a bachelor’s degree in all states (71% of jobs created in Ohio; 73% in Michigan; 62% in Colorado; and 63% in Oregon).
“These investments represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the backbone of our economy—the blue collar, middle-class jobs that require skills training,” said Melissa Johnson, Managing Director of State Strategies at National Skills Coalition. “However, without adequate investment in education, training, and support systems, we risk leaving workers behind and perpetuating inequalities in access to these new opportunities.”
NSC and BGA are advocating for states to invest in additional industry partnerships and local hiring initiatives to support recruitment, retention, and career advancement for people of color and women in infrastructure and clean energy sectors.
“This report illustrates the tremendous opportunity these investments present for blue-collar workers in these four states—allowing us to shift workers from low-wage jobs with few benefits to careers in construction and manufacturing that provide a better future,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh. “Unions are already successfully bringing more women and workers of color into these occupations by targeting their outreach for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. But, realizing that opportunity will require increased training, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeships, and postsecondary educational programs for workers—especially women and workers of color.”
The new jobs being created include a wide variety of frontline and managerial roles, in the field as well as in the office. These include construction laborers and managers, truck drivers, electricians, telecommunications line installers and repairers, among others.
For all states, the study reveals that the median hourly wage of the jobs created will be higher than the state’s median hourly wage for the entire workforce:
Consult the specific facts and data for each state:
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Contact:
Carlos Diaz Barriga
Managing Director of Communications and Narrative Change at National Skills Coalition
carlosdb@nationalskillscoalition.org
Justin Jackson
Press Secretary at BlueGreen Alliance
jjackson@bluegreenalliance.org
