National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Solar  Installer  Labor  Market  Analysis:    Na5onal  Renewable  Energy  Lab  

Clean  Energy  Workforce  Conference  2011  Saratoga  Springs,  NY  March  9,  2011  

Philip  Jordan,  Green  LMI  Consul5ng  

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

What is the Solar LMA?

Report on current and projected solar installation workforce needs

Designed to be representative nationally and regionally to inform the Solar Instructor Training Network

Authored by Barry Friedman, NREL, and Philip Jordan, Green LMI Consulting

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Solar Instructor Training Network

– Sponsors professional development of local instructors

– Enables capacity building of local educational institutions

– Develops materials, tools and resources

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future Slide 4

REGIONS: Northeast Northern Mid-Atlantic Southern Mid-Atlantic Southeast Midwest South-Central Rocky Mountain California/Hawaii

Providers

Partnership

Hudson  Valley  Community  College  

Kennebec  Valley  Community  College  

Pennsylvania    State  University  

North  Carolina  Solar  Center    at  NCSU  

Florida  Solar  Energy  Center  at  UCF      

Midwest  Renewable  Energy  Associa5on  

The  Energy  Ins5tute  at  HCC  -­‐  Northeast  

Salt  Lake  Community  College;  Solar  Energy  

Interna5onal;  Utah  Solar  Energy  Associa5on  

California  Community  Colleges  Board  of  Governors,  California  Energy  Commission,  California  

Centers  for  Sustainable  Energy,  the  Labor  Management  Coopera5on  

CommiVee  

Solar Instructor Training Network 8 REGIONS, 9 REGIONAL RESOURCE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

What are the Goals?

Primary – To inform the SITN on national and regional trends to ensure that the training matches employers’ needs

Secondary – To inform the general public on current and future trends in the solar installation sector

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

•  U.S. installers currently employ approximately 44,000 solar workers and expect to add about 9,900 more over the coming 12-month period, from August 2010 to August 2011

•  56% of firms expect more employees in 12 months, and less than 3% expect fewer.

•  Installation companies expect more than 18% employment growth overall in the next 12 months, and 22% growth in those employees who spend at least 50% of their time on solar.

More 55.6%

Same number 32.4%

Less 2.8%

Don't know/ refused

9.3%

Report Highlights – Solar Installation Firms are Growing

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Report Highlights – Occupational Growth

• Solar water heating installers and technicians: 31%.

• Photovoltaics (PV) Installers: 55%.

• Solar sales: 42%.

• Site assessors: 36%.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4) (5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

25%

35%

45%

55%

65%

45% 55% 65%

12-m

onth

Gro

wth

Difficulty Hiring (1) Solar water or pool heating installers or technicians (2) Solar photovoltaic installers or technicians (3) Sales representatives or estimators (4) Solar designers or engineers (5) Solar installation managers or project foremen (6) HVAC technicians with specific skills in solar installations (7) Energy auditors

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

•  ½ of firms reported difficulty in finding qualified entry-level candidates (59% reported difficulty finding non-entry-level employees)

•  Firms reported significant difficulty finding qualified applicants across all installation occupations

•  Companies are looking for experience with customer service, construction, and electrical projects

Report Highlights – Employer Needs and Preferences

9%

9%

16%

21%

33%

33%

36%

38%

54%

52%

43%

35%

5%

7%

6%

6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Providing training opportunities so current employees are able to

advance within the organization

Retaining valuable employees who could be hired by

competitors

Recruiting entry-level employees with appropriate

training and education

Recruiting non-entry level employees with adequate

skills and work experience

Great difficulty Some difficulty No difficulty Don't know/ refused

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

•  Firms show overwhelming preference for informal OTJ training

•  Over half use customized or existing training programs for their employees

Report Highlights – Employer Needs and Preferences

2.8%

3.2%

10.6%

38.5%

51.0%

56.7%

82.0%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Don't know/refused

Other

A union apprenticeship program

Courses at a local training or education provider, such as a

community college

Customized training for your employees

Courses taught through an industry-specific association or

group

Informal, on the job training

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Report Highlights – PV on left; Thermal on right

8%

26.9%

22.5%

20.9%

26.6%

51.3%

39.7%

58.5%

47.6%

58.2%

57.6%

60.9%

48.7%

29.6%

20.2%

36.9%

41.6%

39.5%

19.3%

40.3%

27.7%

40.7%

30.3%

34.3%

31.0%

43.5%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Associate Degree specific to the position

A state licensed solar installer

Ability to develop CAD drawings

Passed the NABCEP Solar PV Entry-Level Exam

NABCEP Solar PV Installer Certification

A state licensed electrician

Knowledge of site assessment technology

Knowledge of Article 690 NEC

Field experience on solar installations

Customer service skills that simplify the solar installation

process

General understanding of the mechanics & engineering of solar

power

Electricians' skills and/or experience

General construction experience

Very important Somewhat important

5%

10%

14.5%

15.4%

24.5%

34.7%

44.5%

46.1%

49.1%

51.5%

65.3%

27.8%

25.2%

29.4%

31.1%

18.1%

40.2%

35.2%

39.4%

41.2%

37.6%

26.6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Associate Degree specific to the position

Ability to develop CAD

Plumbing certification not specific to solar

NABCEP Solar Thermal Installer Certification

A state licensed plumber

Knowledge of site assessment technology

Plumbing skills and/or experience

Field experience on solar installations

General construction experience

General understanding of the mechanics & engineering of solar

power

Customer service skills

Very important Somewhat important

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Questions?

Philip Jordan Green LMI Consulting, Inc. (617) 395-8898 phil@greenlmi.com http://GreenLMI.com

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