As cities create and implement climate action plans, new research highlights the need for more focus on green workforce planning.

The Brookings Institution think tank assessed the climate action plans of 50 large US cities.

The research finds that many cities are “not in a position to harness new funding” such as from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, and that they have “more workforce planning to do”. The report comes amid an existing shortage of infrastructure workers in some areas.

Most of the cities analysed – 47 of 50 – mention green jobs in their climate action plans, but they only tend to do so “in passing”. The report says that while some cities do not refer to green jobs at all in their plans, most only include a more general call for equity and greater opportunities.

Forty of the cities emphasise energy projects when discussing workforce needs, but considerably fewer cities call out requirements in terms of buildings, transportation, or other parts of the built environment. About half of the cities (24) emphasise workforce needs around building upgrades and retrofits, and 20 highlight these needs around transportation improvements. Read More