California’s strategic plan calls for massive reductions in gas and electricity demand through implementation of efficiency measures; a trained workforce is needed to design, construct, install, operate, and maintain the new energy efficient grid, from power plant to wall outlet. California’s energy sector is facing a massive shift in labor pool experience as older workers retire. New workers are required to fill existing jobs and new jobs that are created through deployment of renewable energy sources.

The Energy Efficiency & Utilities sector team is developing the education, training strategies and programs that will help California meet the needs of both its incumbent and new entrant workforce, and also helping reach our state’s goals for a cleaner, sustainable energy future to deliver energy efficiency and demand-side energy management in the public and private sectors. Support existing efforts to balance the supply and demand for workers by developing programs that can be scaled as demand increases and decreases through up-skilling incumbent workers, re-skilling displaced workers and veterans and a sustainable pipeline of skilled entry-level workers.

• Continue to build partnerships and collaborates with education, labor, and government sectors to develop secondary and postsecondary programs specific to skilled energy positions.
• Use the Energy Industry input to create programs that will reduce the skill gaps in incumbent, replacement and entry workers and provide quantifiable benefits to the companies.
• Create industry-recognized credentials that will allow students to demonstrate the skill level attained.
• Continue to develop workforce planning strategies.