The following resources were used in the development of the Wind Career Map, associated job profile information, or are potential resources for interested Wind Career Map viewers.
Competencies for Careers in Renewable Energy
Together with the Department of Labor, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy developed a comprehensive Renewable Energy Competency Model that includes wind energy job skills and knowledge as one of several career paths in renewable energy disciplines. Competency models such as these are widely used by educators, employers, and industry personnel to define the foundational skills and competencies that a professional should possess at the entry, mid, and advanced levels to perform jobs within a given industry.
Some of the best traditional energy career modeling work available comes out of the Building Block Competencies for Energy Careers developed by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD). Training networks may now use either the Renewable Energy Competency Model or the CEWD framework to create specific solar careers. In addition, the Department of Labor hosts a competency model clearing house with more than 21 different career competency models from various industries.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Skills Assessment report published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2013 presented research and results to help understand the current domestic workforce, project future workforce needs and determine whether existing and new training and educational programs will meet the wind industry’s future needs. The findings in this report allow organizations to make better informed workforce-related decisions based on the current data and future projects.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide the overwhelming majority of jobs in the United States. Each occupational profile describes the duties required by the occupation, the work environment of that occupation, the typical education and training needed to enter the occupation, the median pay for workers in the occupation, and the job outlook into the next 10 years for that occupation. Each profile is in a standard format that makes it easy to compare occupations.
Careers in Wind Energy is a report written by James Hamilton and Drew Liming, two economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As the title suggests, the report focuses on occupations in wind power. While many of the occupations necessary for the successful implementation of a wind project are not specific to the wind industry, there are specific applications of these jobs and this report discusses the wind-specific nature of these jobs as well as salary ranges.
American Wind Energy Association
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is the national trade association for the U.S. wind industry. The Careers in Wind job board posts available jobs throughout the wind industry.
Natural Resources Defense Council
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a national nonprofit environmental organization. Their report on American Wind Farms discusses some of the many types of jobs that are required to support the wind industry and how many are involved throughout the wind development process. The report shows case studies of real U.S. companies.
Additional sources of information: