Online Resources for Green Careers and Training Teri Fritsma Tricia Dahlman

Background: In December 2009, DEED received a $1.15 million Labor Market Information Improvement grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration

The grant goals were to: Study green jobs and training in Minnesota Disseminate the findings to broad audiences, such as career changers, job seekers, dislocated workers, students, and career counselors.

The primary grant partners: DEED’s LMI office (grantee) & ISEEK With support and involvement from: Minnesota Department of Commerce Minnesota State Colleges and University system Twin Cities RISE! Minnesota green employers and organizations Minnesota Career Information System

Six resources now available to all Minnesotans: In-depth research on green jobs Green post-secondary programs in Minnesota 50+ green career profiles 20 green career videos Online career pathway tools MnGreenCareers.org website

In-Depth Research on Green Jobs DEED conducted a study of green job vacancies across Minnesota Involved deep analysis of the questions: What makes a job green? What distinguishes green jobs from others? Ultimately, this work formed the backbone of all the other project deliverables 1 1

In-Depth Research on Green Jobs What questions can this resource answer? What is a green job? Which occupations are “greening” (employ green workers)? What skills and knowledge do these jobs require? What is the nature of the green economy as a whole? 1 1

Green Post-Secondary Programs Based on an analysis of 8,000+ programs in Minnesota—the programs in ISEEK’s database Programs were flagged as “green” if: The entire program was designed to prepare students for a green job The program included some significant green content such as a course, specialization or track 2 2

2. Green Post-Secondary Programs What need does this resource address? Provides one place where students can find a list of green-related programs (short-term and long-term). Lets prospective students distinguish training that offers something green from training that doesn’t. 2 2

50+ Green Career Profiles Based on DEED’s green job vacancy study Customized, Minnesota-specific descriptions of careers that had job vacancies in Some new and emerging titles, like energy engineers; other familiar titles, like foresters 3 3

Green Career Profiles What questions can this resource answer? What are real green jobs in Minnesota? What are these jobs really like, and what skills, knowledge, and preparation do they require? 3 3

20 Green Career Videos 19 videos featuring specific careers in Minnesota, including wind developer, green construction manager, and trout habitat specialist One video to explain “what is green” in Minnesota, based on research findings. 44

20 Green Career Videos What need does this resource address? Helps career explorers see concrete examples of green workers. Enables them to picture themselves in a green job. 44

Online Career Pathways Tools Based on in-depth studies of specific green economic segments in Minnesota: Residential Energy Efficiency Commercial Energy Efficiency Wind Energy Generation Ethanol Production Natural Resources Conservation (coming in June) Solar Energy (coming in November) Geothermal Energy (coming in November) 55

Online Career Pathways Tools Give you a birds-eye view of the career possibilities within the entire sector 55

Online Career Pathways Tools Allows career explorers to compare careers within a segment to see how they might move from one to another 55

Minnesota Green Careers Website A culmination of all grant deliverables and a one-stop shop for green career information pages of content, including data-driven content and “soft” (contexual) content 66