Workforce Diversity and Inclusion
IREC is committed to diversity, equity, and justice as a core part of all our clean energy initiatives.At IREC, we believe that energy justice includes onramps to rewarding clean energy careers for historically underserved populations. Our workforce programs reflect our commitment to a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy future by cultivating a highly-skilled workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our communities — including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, and veterans.
Solar Industry Diversity Study
The U.S. Solar Industry Diversity Study provides comprehensive data on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the solar and storage industry. The study offers insights on career pathways, employee wages, employee satisfaction, and career development. It also includes best practices for how the industry can improve.
Weatherization Assistance Program
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), IREC created an innovative online training program to help administrative staff at subgrantee organizations of DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)—the country’s single largest residential whole-house energy efficiency program—run efficient and effective weatherization operations. IREC’s program offers free, self-paced training on implementing WAP at the local level.
Training-to-Job Pipelines
IREC partnered with the Home Builders Institute (HBI) to bring solar skills and information about solar career pathways to HBI Job Corps students and administrators in selected markets. This national model is based on hands-on, experiential training and the employer-recognized Residential Rooftop Solar PV Technician Certification. IREC leverages our Career Maps to reach youth and those supporting them with services about the universe of careers in clean energy.
National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance
The National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance is a cross-sector effort to improve clean energy education, training, and job placement outcomes—and ensure that expanding clean energy job opportunities are inclusive of diverse candidates and underserved communities. Since January 2022, the Alliance has been virtually convening more than 500 employers, training providers, community-based recruitment and support organizations, and energy justice organizations.
Through structured and intentional meetings, the Alliance is collectively identifying and sharing resources and information, with a focus on concrete solutions to shared workforce challenges.