I prepared this for high school career fairs. A version for the general public was shown at the MN State Fair in 2009.

1. Minnesota Manufacturing
Good Jobs Green Jobs
Prepared by Debra Bultnick, Department of Employment and Economic Development
1

2. What Does Green Mean?
 Manufacturers of
components for solar
panels, wind turbines,
grid infrastructure
 Companies that
manufacture in a
manner that is green Some manufacturers will look
to diversify their customer base
or promotes a green to support their inclusion in the
culture first; any business can choose
to make adjustments to be
included in the latter.
2

3. Why Go Green?
 Compete for sales (a
company’s ‘greenness’
becomes a supply
chain differentiator such
as ISO)
 Compete for younger Manufacturers will have to
workers in what will paint a compelling picture to
draw the brightest and the best
again become a very —the healthcare, financial and
tight labor market. service sectors are after this
same talent.
3

4. Drivers of Growth in Green Jobs
 Technological advances
 Wind, solar, hydrogen—our energy future will
be a patchwork of many clean resources
 Economic conditions
 Energy prices and the economy affect the
willingness and ability to invest
 Federal and state energy policy
 Incentives and initiatives can spur investment
in green energy and technologies
4

5. What will Draw Green Investments?
 Workforce strengths
 Natural resources and geography
 Infrastructure
 State, regional and local policy
5

6. What are Employers Looking For?
6

7. Top Factor for Future Success
 A high-performance workforce was noted by all
sizes of companies in every region as most
important overall.
7

8. #1 Skill in Demand
 Computer
 Keyboard
 Spreadsheet
8

9. #2 Skill in Demand
 Basic Employability
 Comes to work
on time every day
drug free
9

10. Skills in Demand
 Technical Skills
 Print Reading
 Math
 Measuring
10

11. Skill in Demand: Teamwork
Florida: Dog Pack Attacks Gator
 The alligator, one of the oldest and ultimate predators,
can still fall victim to implemented 'team work' strategy,
made possible due to the tight knit social structure and
'survival of the pack mentality' bred into canines.
 The following is a remarkable photograph courtesy of
Nature Magazine. The Alpha dog has a muzzle hold on
the gator preventing it from breathing, another dog has a
hold on the tail to keep it from thrashing. The third dog
attacks the soft underbelly of the gator.
11

13. Skills in Demand
 Teamwork
 Customer Service
13

14. Skills in Demand
 Innovation
 Creativity
14

15. Skill in Demand
 Communication
 Reading
 Writing
 English Fluency
15

16. Skills in Demand
 Process Improvement
 Problem Solving
16

17. Green Job Requirements
 “Green”
competencies will
be learned either in
tandem with or after
learning the core
skills associated
with a given
occupation Underwater welding is an
occupation that builds green
competencies onto another
occupational skill.
17

18. Getting a Green Job
“One cannot simply walk in
off the street and hope to
be qualified for a green job.
Like any good job, there are
time, training, and
educational commitments
that may precede a
successful applicant.”
Minnesota Green Jobs Task Force:
Market Analysis
18

19. High School/GED—Not Enough!!
 Most green jobs in the
energy sector will be in
occupations that
usually require:
 Apprenticeship
 Professional
certification
 Two years post-
secondary education
19

20. Put Money where Your Mind Is
 Many manufacturers
offer tuition
reimbursement when
you continue your
education
20

21. How Do You Get There?
21

22. Energize Your Career
 Renewable Energy  Energy Efficiency
(RE) (EE)
 Creating, installing,  Designing products
and maintaining and processes that
technologies that use less energy
generate energy from  EE may be the
resources that are cheapest “alternative
naturally replenished fuel” around
22

23. Current: 9,477
Renewable Energy 2020: 12,238 –
18,458
 Strongest economic opportunity for Minnesota
 Will create green jobs
 expansion of existing firms
 attraction of firms looking to serve the region
 The subcategories of wind, solar and biofuels
can deliver the largest number of green jobs.
23

24. Jobs in Renewable Energy
 Wind Power
Sheet Metal Workers,
Machinists, Welders,
Industrial Production
Managers, First-Line
Production Supervisors
24

25. Jobs in Renewable Energy
 Solar Power
Electrical Engineers,
Metal Fabricators,
Precision Assemblers,
Welders
25

26. Jobs in Renewable Energy
 Cellulosic Biofuels Chemical Engineers,
Chemical Technicians, Machine Operators
26

27. Current: 9,541
Green Products 2020: 10,340 –
12,640
 Second strongest opportunity for the state
 Much of the opportunity for job growth will come
from existing firms
 Green Building Products and Green
Transportation (transit) products demonstrate
the clearest opportunities
27

28. Jobs in Green Products
 Mass Transit
Welders, Metal
Fabricators,
Engine
Assemblers
28

29. Jobs in Green Products
 Energy-Efficient Cars
CAD Engineers, Automation
Engineers, Engineering
Technicians, Painters,
Welders,
Metal Fabricators,
CNC Machine Operators,
Injection Mold Operators,
Operations Managers
29

30. Current: 22,441
Green Services 2020: 24,941 –
28,337
 Broad range of industries including energy
auditors, green product distributors and solar
installers
 Minnesota’s workforce, education, training,
economic, and environmental groups have
begun to work together to align their efforts for
green job opportunities
30

31. Jobs in Green Services
 Solar Installers
 Environmental
Engineers
 Energy Auditors
 Waste Handlers
 Manufacturing
Technicians
31

32. Conservation/ Current: 11,267
Energy Efficiency
2020: 11,514 –
12,032
 Positive growth numbers
 Minnesota is recognized for its commitment to
environmental conservation
 Will this behavior translates into economic
opportunity for the state?
32

33. Jobs in Conservation
 Field Technicians
 Commercial &
Residential
Consulting
 Project Managers
 Lean Experts
 Quality Engineers
33

34. Jobs in Energy Efficiency
 Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and
maintain electrical and electronic equipment.
They use computer-aided design (CAD) in their
work.
 Their expertise
ranges from
power generators
to lighting and
wiring systems.
34

35. Jobs in Energy Efficiency
 Engineering technicians
design, test, and assess
products to improve them.
 They help engineers solve
technical problems in a
variety of areas. Some
assist with production and
inspection.
35

36. What is a
“Good Job?”
36

37. One that is Good for our Economy
 Thin solar cells
—a solar panel
without the
panel. Just a
coating, thin as
a layer of paint,
that converts
light into
electricity.
37

38. One that is Good for You
 Manufacturing
 Good pay
 Upward mobility
 Healthcare benefits
 401(k) plan
38

39. One that is Good for the Earth
 Don't blow it—
good planets are
hard to find.
Quoted in TIME
39

40. On-Line Resources
 Opportunities already exist so keep a look out on
the State's largest online job board.
www. MinnesotaWorks.net
40

41. On-Line Resources
www.positivelyminnesota.com/greenjobs
 Green Your  Fastest Growing
Education Green-Enhanced
 Green Your Career Jobs in Minnesota
 Green Your Business  Green Job Resources
41

42. On-Line Resources
www.iseek.org/industry/energy
Energy Careers  Energy Education  Energy Jobs
42