Continued growth in the U.S. wind industry requires trained and qualified workers to manufacture, construct, operate, and maintain wind turbines. Additionally, the nation will continue to need skilled scientists and engineers who can develop the next generation of wind power technologies.
In 2024, the National Laboratory of the Rockies published the National Wind Energy Workforce Assessment: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Needs. The report investigated what it will take for stakeholders to connect the dots among education, training, entry-level jobs, and long-term careers in the energy sector. The report suggestions, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO), could help close the "wind energy workforce gap," identified in a 2019 report, between students having difficulty getting hired and industry having difficulty finding qualified candidates. The 2024 findings suggest ways to address the need for increased awareness about wind energy occupations and future analysis on training opportunities that are needed to fill the rising demand for new workers to support the industry.
IESO addresses the wind industry's workforce needs through various targeted investments. For more information, see the IESO projects map and select "Program Area: Workforce Development, Education, and Stakeholder Engagement."
DOE also works with other federal agencies that are heavily invested in training and education—such as the Smithsonian, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Education—to fill existing gaps and ensure that federally sponsored training activities and educational programs are appropriately targeted and complementary.
Collegiate Wind Competition
The U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition challenged undergraduate students from multiple disciplines to design and construct a wind turbine according to set specifications. The students investigated innovative wind energy concepts, gain experience designing, building, and testing a wind turbine, develop a business plan, and increase their knowledge of issues facing the wind industry in the United States. The Collegiate Wind Competition was designed to attract engineering, business, and science students to wind-related fields, provided them with practical knowledge and wind experience, and showcase tomorrow's promising workforce to industry leaders.
Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment
The U.S. Offshore Workforce Assessment analyzed future U.S. offshore wind workforce growth to help the country reach the Biden administration's goal of installing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030. The report suggested that the U.S. offshore wind energy industry will need to develop their domestic workforce, especially within the manufacturing sector. The report identified actions, including increasing training opportunities and prioritizing diversity and inclusion, that could help the country meet growing demand for offshore wind energy jobs. To meet that demand with enough supply, or number of workers, the report names opportunities such as hiring from adjacent industries.
On-Demand Wind Training
A training course called Selecting, Implementing, and Funding Distributed Wind Systems in Federal Facilities is available through the Whole Building Design Guide's Continuing Education webpage and is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. The course is primarily targeted at federal agency staff members responsible for renewable energy.