Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Dan Moon, President, Environmental Business Council of New England Project Client MassRecycle Key Partner SkillWorks: Green Collar Career Pathways Initiative MA Department of Environmental Protection, E.L. Harvey and Sons, Costello Dismantling Company, Inc. Funders Amy Perlmutter, Perlmutter Associates Study Leader Paula Paris, JFYNetWorks Philip Jordan, BW Research Partnership, Inc. Kevin Doyle, Green Economy Researchers Recycling businesses and leaders, workforce development, community-based organizations Advisory Committee Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Study Goals To better quantify the number and types of jobs in the Massachusetts recycling workforce, To identify where job growth and contraction might be occurring, To uncover the factors that drive job growth or contraction, and To provide information to enable workforce development programs develop effective training and job development strategies to match growth in the sector Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Survey of private and public sector recycling organizations identify where growth or contraction is expected and issues employers face in finding qualified employees Interviews with private sector employers in industries that are representative of growth sectors to gain an understanding of their organizational structure and issues finding qualified workers Interviews with employees of representative industries to learn more about their job experience Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs A Snapshot of the Massachusetts Recycling Industry 2,000 establishments * employing 14,000 people * payroll ~ $500 million/year * + municipal and regional recycling coordinators diverts almost 5 million tons of waste from disposal 70% of companies have >75% of their employees working on recycling or recycled materials most employers are small: < ten employees spending at least half their time on work relating to recycling or recycled materials * ( ) Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs ( Defining the Recycling Industry– NERC Methodology (3 Categories, 26 Sub-Categories) Recycling Industries (supply side) collection, composting, processing, wholesaling Recycling Reliant Industries (demand side) glass manufacturing, foundries, paper- mills/paper-products, pavement mix, plastics and rubber products Reuse and Remanufacturing computer and electronic appliance demanufacture, retail used merchandise, tire retreading, motor vehicle parts, building materials reuse Perlmutter Associates + Government Recycling Staff

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Percent of surveyed firms by recycling activity Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Recycling Services Provided by Public Employees Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Expected Job Growth By Sector Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs The Recycling Industry in Massachusetts is Growing Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Recycling Categories Where Job Growth is Expected Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Fastest Growing Occupational Categories Over Next 24 Months Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Skill Deficiencies: Recent Entry or Mid Level Hire Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Perlmutter Associates Issues Most Closely Related to Difficulty Finding Qualified Workers

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Factors that Could Drive Job Growth Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Factors that Could Result in Layoffs or Decreased Hiring Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Recycling Workers How h How Found Job: word of mouth, Craig’s List Training: mostly now informal, on the job; would like more leadership training, EH&S, skills for their job Environmental Awareness: not necessarily motivator for applying for job, but has increased their recycling awareness and behavior Recommend Job to a Friend: Yes, but it’s hard work! Pride in What They Do: Yes! Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Recommendations Recycling Industry employer engagement with the workforce development community needs improvement— creating lasting partnerships will take time, but will pay off The recycling industry is not clustered throughout the Commonwealth—working with these enterprises will require a regional approach The recycling industry in Massachusetts needs an economic development strategy at least as much as a workforce strategy—the workforce development community should develop a relationship with the Massachusetts DEP and MassRecycle Incumbent workers in the Massachusetts recycling industry want and need high quality training—including workforce readiness, supervisor and leadership education, and health and safety. Promoting recycling jobs as “green” may not be effective as a recruitment tool in some job categories, but greater eco-awareness comes from doing recycling work Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Additional Recycling Job Resources Perlmutter Associates More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S., BlueGreen Alliance Putting Americans to Work, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries stry.aspx?hkey=bc2e8f55-f751-4da1-bcc3-3ab5a86e53c5 Careers in Recycling, Bureau of Labor Statistics O*Net, The Occupational Information Network

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Perlmutter Associates

Recycling and Jobs in Massachusetts: A Study of Current and Future Workforce Needs Amy Perlmutter Perlmutter Associates Perlmutter Associates