Solar panel installer in a hardhat drills into a solar panel on a roof with partly cloudy skies in background.

New York’s green job training programs face a shortage of actual jobs

New York City's promise of nearly 400,000 green jobs by 2040 faces hurdles, as job creation lags far behind training program enrollments, leaving many would-be workers with few opportunities.

Lauren Dalban reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

A recent report found that just 2,184 green jobs were created in New York City in 2023, far short of expectations driven by the city's climate goals and green economy pledges.
Community programs like the RETI Center have expanded training to include battery storage and EVs, but low job placement rates, especially for low-income participants, reflect the limited demand for solar and building decarbonization jobs.
Federal opposition to renewable energy projects, including halted offshore wind projects and potential cuts to solar incentives, threatens further progress in scaling the green workforce.

Key quote:

“We still haven’t seen that explosion of jobs that we expected to see by this time.”

— Maria Orejuela, workforce development coordinator at the RETI Center

Why this matters:

Green jobs hold the promise of economic revitalization and climate resilience in cities like New York, particularly for low-income residents and communities of color historically left out of high-growth sectors. But programs intended to lift up disadvantaged groups through solar panel installation, building retrofits, and other clean tech careers are stalling due to slow implementation of local climate laws and a freeze on federal support. The Trump administration’s suspension of offshore wind permits and rollback of solar programs could stymie emerging markets just as they begin to take hold. Meanwhile, costly retrofits and unclear building standards stall private sector hiring. Without synchronized federal, state, and city action — and clearer paths from training to employment — the dream of a just green economy may falter. Environmental justice goals, public health improvements, and reductions in urban carbon emissions are all on the line.

insideclimatenews.org

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