Growing the workforce needed for building retrofits: A guide for U.S. cities

In cities in the United States, buildings are often the largest contributor to climate pollution, accounting for 50-75% of greenhouse gas emissions.¹ As cities explore ways to meet their emissions reduction goals, advance equity, and promote economic development, the building retrofit sector is critical driving the need for skilled labor, particularly in construction jobs. The demand for workers presents an opportunity for cities to partner with employers, unions, and others to build a more inclusive, fair, and diverse workforce for vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, migrants, and black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) who are disproportionately concentrated in lower-paying construction jobs.

Unprecedented federal funding for energy efficiency projects and workforce development such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which allocated $48 billion towards buildings, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which dedicated $800 million in workforce development investments, highlight this historic moment for climate action in the United States. See How states and cities can benefit from climate investment in the Inflation Reduction Act, and Climate action and the Inflation Reduction Act: A guide for local government leaders for more.

This report supports local leaders involved in building a sustained workforce to meet building retrofit and broader climate goals. It recommends actions cities can take to grow the diversity and capacity of workers while maximizing potential funding opportunities.