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Working Green in MinnesotaWorkshop by iSeek Solutions

MCDA April 20, 2012

I have two goals for this presentation. to familiarize you with research from a 2-year study of green job vacancies in Minnesota, conducted by labor market analysts at the MN Dept of Employment and Economic Development from 2009-2011. And To describe the tools developed to present the research to the public. Well include some print materials available here, and that you can order.1Green jobs have a direct or essential impact on a product, service, or process that results in environmental benefits.

green products save energy, re-use materials, support renewable energy

green services deal with removing toxic substances or reducing their use, recycling, supporting renewables

green processes create more efficient ways of doing things, protect or conserve the environment

First, what is green?

Although theres a lot of conversation and news about green jobs, we lacked a concrete definition. The analysts developed this definition. In short, a green job is one that benefits the environment. 2Minnesota is estimated to have 52,827 green jobs.

About 2% of job openings in Minnesota are green.

Green job vacancies are growing at the same rate as other vacancies.

Green jobs have higher education requirements than other jobs.

Research Study on Green Jobs

Green job vacancies represent 2.4% of all vacancies, so while its significant green jobs are not a very large part of the economy. Keep in mind, that there may be jobs you wont see here that are greening meaning they may add to energy efficiency, involve some recycling, or use environmentally-friendly products but would not qualify as a green job by our definition. These are still important areas to consider, and well get to that by talking about greening a current job, finding green companies, and greening the resume too.

3Green jobs totaled about 3,800 openings during the four rounds of DEEDs job survey.

Green Job Vacancies by Sector

Its significant to note that Energy Efficiency is a backbone for MNs green economy. Our climate of extreme temperatures, and a long cold winter mean were motivated to find ways to keep heat inside in winter, and cool in summer.

MN also has a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that requires 25 percent of state electricity consumption to be generated from renewable resources by 2020 that means a strong push for installing and using wind energy sources, solar, and ground source heat.

Were also a state with a lot of corn and soybean production, which are used as bio material for plastic production and ethanol fuel. 4

Metro 54% Northeast 10%Central 16% Northwest 5% Southwest 11% Southeast 4%

...but proportionally Central, Southwest and Northeast Minnesota had the highest concentrations of green job vacancies.Regional Distribution of Green Job Vacancies

To give you a sense of where green jobs are located in the state. Many people are surprised to see the majority in the metro. But based on their share of total jobs in a region, green jobs are more concentrated in Central, SW and NE MN.5Green Job Vacancy Trends87% found within the private sector, including 12% non-profits, and 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)

(just review these) So there are a lot of small companies and start ups involving green job vacancies, and new jobs being created in green.6Education CategoriesGreen VacanciesAll VacanciesH.S./GED degree or less29%51%Vocational degree23%9%Associates degree6%6%Bachelors degree38%21%Advanced degree3%5%No response1%8% Educational Characteristics of Green Vacancies

You can see that on average, green jobs require more education than jobs in general. 7

Top 5 Knowledge Needs for Green Jobs

Energy EfficiencyWaste ManagementPollution Monitoring and ControlEnvironmental RegulationsNatural Resource Conservation and Management

Green jobs are often based heavily on core knowledge areas like math, science, engineering, and technology. Focusing ones education on these areas can be a first step towards a green job.Energy Efficiency: Understand the principles of energy conservationWaste Management: Identify, minimize or reduce waste and manage hazardous wastePollution Monitoring and Control: Monitor pollution through scientific measures and design solutions for prevention and mitigationEnvironmental Regulations: Knowledge of firm and government policies, regulation and permittingNatural Resource Conservation and Management : Plan and implement conservation practices Quality assurance and management.Understand principles and techniques used to optimize quality and resource use. For example: conserving natural resources and minimizing waste during all steps of an operational process (manufacturing, engineering, logistics, etc.). Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are examples of quality management systems focused on environmental sustainability.

Additional important areas of knowledge are these: (see website under Education tab for more ideas)

Commercialization of green products.Knowledge of innovative green technologies, industry trends, and customer needs to identify opportunities for introducing, promoting, and distributing new green products and services.

Computer modeling programs and tools.Understand and use modeling software applications, including hydrologic/hydraulic models, geological models, energy models, and 3D graphical modeling applications such as BIM (Building Information Modeling).

Spatial analysis and management of geospatial data.Understand and use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and other mapping and data management applications for environmental design and natural resource management.

Top Skill Needs for Green Jobs

Technical skills were the most commonly required skills in green job vacancies (69%), followed by math (60%). Technical and math skills combined were required in 55% of all green estimated vacancies. Overall Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) areas were most typical for green work.Project Management skills were needed in 20% of cases.

Skills for green jobs are often the same skills you need for traditional jobs. It's your ability to transfer those traditional skills to a green project or process that could launch you into green. (see examples below if time)

Technical skills. Usually relates to systems mechanical, technology, usu physical or information systems.This very broad group of skills will become more in-demand due to the complex, technical nature of environmental problems businesses and communities are starting to face. Technical skills are necessary to evaluate, design, install, operate, monitor, or correct malfunctions of anything from an air duct to a technology-intense environmental compliance program. These skills also include the ability to apply theoretical knowledge (such as scientific or legal) to develop or improve environmental compliance or conservation programs/services.

Project management: Many kinds of green activities come in the form of projects, such as site remediation projects, sustainable building projects, or conservation planning projects or programs

Design: These skills are used to develop new green products or find new ways of making existing products/processes more environmentally sustainable. High level of creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking skills combined with technology design skills are needed in green economy.

So while this represents the majority of green jobs, there are also careers requiring communication and teaching skills, writing, creativity, etc.

For trainers background: One interesting piece from the research is that employers said there is no green skill per se, instead they use existing skills in new ways or coupled with new green based knowledge. For example marketing a green product takes the same marketing skills as any other product. Using corn or plants to make plastic again some additional green materials knowledge, but same basic skills involved as for petroleum-based plastic. For an electrician, they use the same core knowledge to repair a wind turbine at 300 feet or to install an automatic control system for heat, while a plumber uses the same skills to install a low-flow toilet as she or he does to install a standard one. A landscape designer may work with native plants and a rain garden system to conserve water but those take same skills as designing a standard land use, with additional green-based knowledge.

Overview of completed grant project 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

The project that funded the research we just reviewed also supported the development of user-friendly tools to share the information. iSeek developed this set of information resources that well take a look at now. 10

Minnesota Green Careers Website This is the homepage of MnGreenCareers.org. You can find it from the ISEEK homepage as well by scrolling to page bottom, go to Industries, and select Green. Like all our ISEEK sites, the green careers portal is categorized by Careers, Education and Jobs. Lets start with some of what you find in the Careers section.11Five Green Career Clusters

Renewable Energy GenerationBuilding-Related Energy EfficiencyRecycling & Pollution ReductionGreen ManufacturingEnvironmental Conservation

All the green careers are organized into these five clusters, so helpful to get familiar with the categories.

Renewable Energy Generation (includes careers like computer software engineers and wind turbine technicians, solar system installers, ground source heat maintenance)

Building-related Energy Efficiency (includes energy auditors and roofers, window and insulation installers, pipefitters, HVAC, mechanical engineers)

Green Manufacturing (includes manufacturing engineers and supply chain analysts, production workers for insulated windows or automated controls, producing plant-based plastics, and improving manufacturing and transportation processes to reduce energy use and toxic output)

Recycling & Pollution Reduction (includes environmental scientists and water treatment engineers, recycling sorters, hazardous materials workers and clean up project planners)

Environmental Conservation (includes foresters and sustainable landscape architects, soil conservation, habitat specialists, tree nursery workers, eco tourism, volunteer and fundraising work, mapmaking)

12So what are green careers?

Bicycle RepairersBuilding Maintenance WorkersBus DriversChemistsCivil EngineersElectrical Systems/Electrical Controls EngineersEnergy EngineersEnvironmental Lab TechniciansGeologists and GeophysicistsGreen Marketing ManagersHeating and Cooling System MechanicsInsulation InstallersNatural Sciences ManagersPark NaturalistsRegulatory Affairs ManagersRoofersScience TechniciansSustainability SpecialistsUrban and Regional PlannersWater Resources EngineersWind Turbine TechniciansZoologistsEveryone wants to know What do you mean by green careers. This is a sample of the careers that are profiled in depth on the site.Users can take self assessments, and green career quizzes, that are also great for workshops and classes.

We also built a section Get Started in Green for people who may not seek post secondary ed or want very short training to get into a green job: Entry level Green Jobs, Move Into Green, Greening your own job13

Over 50 Green Career Profilesget wages, outlook or demand, training required, skills, etc. Notice the right side of the page these are links to MinnesotaWorks.net to find current job openings in your zip code.

The profiles again are based on research from 2009-2011, so represents only those green careers active and in demand in MN. 1420 Green Career Videos

These can be viewed individually or as a group, ie in a high school career or science class, in college class, or an adult workshop. They are Minnesotans involved in green careers now, so education and training, skills needed, expectations for a day in the life etc are very current, relevant. 15 Online Career Path Tools

Shows career explorers the career landscape in a particular segment

These answer: what can I do in this field with my current level of training? With short-term, with 2 year, 4 year or beyond? How can I grow in this career?

We have these career paths outlined with high level information just job titles, median wages, and career progression paths for increased levels of education and experience for 7 career areas, some of which have no other documented career paths.Our newest are solar electric, solar heating and cooling, and ground source heat. These are very new, emerging fields in MN. Also, natural resource conservation, electric power and transmission, commercial and residential energy efficiency careers.

16How do I prepare for a green career?Green Education programs in MinnesotaLow-cost and short-term training options for energy careers.

The next big question is how to prepare for a green job. Students go green: features for High school and college students. We also like the volunteer section great for this emerging areaHeres where youll find the Skills and Knowledge: so students and faculty can focus on most employable skills and knowledge and tools

The next piece in green training is big: in the research, we found hundreds of programs in MN and created a dbase you can search on the site. Most are at MnSCU campuses(about 75%)

Theres also federally funded training now available listed on our Low cost short term energy career training page.

Trainer background:Programs were flagged as green if:

The entire program was designed to prepare students for a green job (vocational programs such as wind turbine technician training or solar panel installer training).

The program included some significant green content like a course, specialization, or track (for example, that would include an architectural program that incorporates content on sustainable design and building techniques).

HANDOUT Also refer class to Green Generalist training with Green POWER, offer schedule at WFCs, and website for more info.

WORKSHEET: Wake up your machines again and choose one of the 3 careers you noted previously to research some education or training Ill walk you through. Under Education tab, Train for Green, Click link for Green Programs to find higher education program, or click link on short term green training, then on page, link to short term low cost energy training to find that dbase. Note name of program, institution, and program length, and contact info for short term programs to follo wup on after class.

17Green Education & Training

Programs were flagged as green if:

The entire program was designed to prepare students for a green job (vocational programs such as wind turbine technician training or solar panel installer training).

The program included some significant green content like a course, specialization, or track (for example, that would include an architectural program that incorporates content on sustainable design and building techniques).

Students can filter training that offers something green from training that doesnt, i.e. some carpentry or auto repair programs have green elements, others dont.

Also note: Can you see the tiny red WIA flags? You can filter which green training programs will accept WIA funding. Search by location, by schedule, those that offer online classes, credit for prior learning.

18 Why Be a Green Volunteer?Get your foot in the door with an organization helping the environmentNetwork with people in green jobsDevelop green-related skills and knowledgeSee what green jobs are really likeGet a competitive edge in the job market when you're ready to find a green job

What if you dont have time / resources for education and training? OR for anyone who wants to develop their range of skills / contacts in green: try volunteering.

One way to build your resume and green experience, and the likelihood of getting an interview, is to volunteer. Currently, about one out of every 50 job openings in Minnesota is for a green job (2.4% of MNs economy is green) Competition for some of these openings might be stiff, but the skills you learn through volunteering can tip the scale in your favor.

There is a lot of opportunity to do this in MN; the site lists resources to find them. 19How do I find green job openings?

The 3rd area of our website (careers, education, jobs) relates to searching for a green job.

Well look at a few locations from the site, but also note theres a whole tab of resources about Entry level green jobs, and also a page on greening your own job. 20Green Your Resume

Lots of people want to move into a greener career but dont necessarily have the time or money to attend training. We have several tools to help green your resume, find volunteer work to build green experience, and green your current job and lifestyle if those are the more realistic steps to take in your career at this time. 21 How do I green my resume?

Note how work duties may have helped the environmentEmphasize green volunteer work you've doneHighlight green training, certifications, or tools youve used State in objective a position that benefits the environmentAs appropriate, note your commitment to environmental issues

Some of the tips from the page: Ask: how does your experience relate to saving energy, reducing toxicity or waste of resources, using local / healthier alternatives, benefitting the environment in some way. Emphasize any green volunteer work you've done.Highlight green training, certifications, tools youve used. Use your career objective statement to highlight your interest in a position that benefits the environment.Your skills and qualifications are most important, but if it's appropriate for the position, you might mention a personal commitment to environmental issues.

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Here are some sources of green job openings to help you focus your search. Very helpful to have good keywords to search with. To refine your search and find helpful keywords, consider searching only green job banks. Be specific. Encourage clients to explore the job sites and find some live openings!Search for tools and technology terms

Has anyone used online job banks here? What do you see as important when youve done your searches? Tips for all here? You can spend a lot of time, so want to be as specific as you can. 23Green Business Listing

You can research businesses you might be interested in here. We included in this list those businesses that had industry codes related to the green work we identified in our research, so theres no guaranteeing how green the businesses are - just that their work relates to green kinds of activity. Its key to know for yourself what your focus is and then can research effectively, ask the questions that are important to you, read websites of organizations to see their priorities and projects.24

www.positivelyminnesota.com/Data_Publications/Data/Green_Jobs/index.aspxAnd if youd like to get more detail and depth, you can read the full report off the Positively MN site, Data, Green Jobs, or download more charts for workshops. 25Strategic Outreach Project Coordinator Minnesota State Colleges and Universities systemJulie.Remington@so.mnscu.edu651-201-1523

Order free green print materials: www.iseek.org/industry/green/outreach-materials-order-form.html

You are welcome to email me if you have more questions. If youd like to order free green print materials while the supply lasts, go to the link listed, or just head to the bottom of any page on MnGreenCareers.org and go to the Outreach Materials link, and click on order form. 26