While state and federal governments have passed legislation and rules to prevent unfair employment practices, workforce diversity is often perceived as the responsibility of and an opportunity for private sector employers. Certainly, there is an important business case for employers to diversify their workforce: on average, companies that lack racial, ethnic, and gender representation exhibit poorer financial performance and report lower innovation revenue compared to their more diverse counterparts.
Yet, workforce diversity shortfalls also hold profound public policy implications for governments, including for the achievement of State Energy Offices’ energy, climate, and economic development goals. And while the U.S. energy sector has been an engine for economic growth and job creation, supporting millions of workers across the country, the energy workforce is not representative of the communities and markets it serves.
As policymaking bodies and conveners, State Energy Offices are well-positioned to inform energy, climate, and economic development policies, programs, and investments with a deeper understanding of the experiences of those who have been historically underrepresented in the workforce. To address this need, NASEO has partnered with a variety of thought leaders to promote exchanges, awareness-raising, and partnership-building in support of energy workforce diversity, access, and inclusion.
Publications
NASEO has partnered with the Energy Futures Initiative, BW Research Partnership, the U.S. Department of Energy, and a wide variety of state, local, industry, and philanthropic partners to support seminal publications about the size, composition, and trends in the U.S. energy workforce:
- The annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) supplements federal Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data to provide a more complete picture of energy employment trends and projects across all energy production and distribution sectors, as well as key end-use and production technologies.
- Wages, Benefits, and Change (2020) offers a deeper understanding of the role of energy jobs in the U.S. economy and the lives of workers, highlighting the variety of factors that affect wages, job quality, and opportunity across the energy workforce.
- Diversity in the U.S. Energy Workforce: Data Findings to Inform State Energy, Climate, and Workforce Development Policies and Programs (2021) offers quantitative analyses on representation, inclusion, and access in the U.S. energy workforce.
- Energy Sector Workforce Diversity, Access, Inclusion, and the Policy Case for Investment: Recommendations for State Energy Office Action (2021) elevates best practices and promising strategies and partnerships for states interested in advancing energy sector workforce diversity.
Meetings and Events
NASEO has partnered with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Community Development Action Coalition (CDAC), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, to facilitate discussions and partnerships in energy sector workforce diversity.
- Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Workforce: Eliminating Barriers and Creating Opportunities for Enter Energy and STEM Careers through Innovative State-Academic Partnerships (May 13-14, 2021 – click here for meeting recordings)
- The Energy Workforce Landscape and Outlooks for Clean Energy Funding (December 14, 2021 – click here for meeting recording)
- State Energy Office-Minority Serving Institution Partnerships for Clean Energy Infrastructure and Workforce Development (January 11, 2022 – click here for meeting recording)
- The Role of Community Colleges and Two-Year Institutions in Energy Sector Workforce Development (April 13, 2022 - click here for meeting recording)