California's Green Economy
Industry and Workforce Studies
Since 2008, the Centers of Excellence have coordinated on several studies to assess the workforce needs of emerging and evolving green industries and occupations.
Reports and Research
Green Certifications in Northern California (pdf) - November 2012
Thousands of jobs are
being
created to support efforts that reduce energy usage, eliminate waste, and produce green products.
The purpose of this research brief is to approximate the demand for jobs that require green-related certifications in Northern California through analysis of job postings by employers across California.
Workforce Trends & Needs in Green Sectors (pdf) - October 2011
Presented at the CCCAOE Fall 2011 Conference, this presentation incorporates data from solar and water studies. Also explored were results of a year-long examination of "green jobs" conducted in partnership with the EDD's Labor Market Information Division (LMID), which focused on identifying the impact of "green" in creating new tasks, skills, and knowledge areas for today's workforce.
Understanding the Green Economy: A Community College Perspective (pdf) - June 2009
In Understanding the Green Economy - A Community College Perspective, the COE approach to studying green industries and occupations is mapped out, creating a foundation for further study by defining green industries and occupations, classifying green clusters within traditional industries, and identifying traditional occupations evolving into green jobs.
Download the Green Framework files
As detailed in the Understanding the Green Economy - A Community College Perspective, the COE definition of green is translated into industry, occupational and community college program crosswalks. Download the Green Framework tables in Excel format for your own research projects.
Green Industry Framework (xls) - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Green Occupational Framework (xls) - Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
Green Program Crosswalk (xls) - Taxonomy of Programs (TOP) and Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP).
Understanding the Green Economy Webinar
During the one-hour session, COE directors presented the framework of the Understanding the Green Economy - A Community College Perspective. Access the recorded session (includes audio) or view the slideshow presentation (pdf).
Green Industries & Jobs in California (pdf) - February 2009
The Green Industries & Jobs report previews the COE approach to identifying green industries and occupations, and includes, where possible, preliminary data and information, and related existing community college training programs.
A summary of the Green Industries & Jobs report, the Research Briefing (pdf) is also available.
The Understanding Green Jobs (pdf) presentation, given at the joint CCCEWD and CALED annual conference in April 2009, outlines the COE's Green Economy study and partnership activities with the California Employment Development Department's Labor Market Information Division (LMID) as well as highlighting the study's next phases and related work on green jobs.
Developing a Workforce for the Green Economy Webinar
On Wednesday, February 11, 2009, the Centers of Excellence hosted a webinar focusing on the Green Economy Workforce in the Central Valley. View the presentation (pdf).
Continue the Conversation
- Browse the Energy Efficiency page for updates about this ongoing study.
- Download the statewide and regional Solar Study documents released in 2008 by the COE.
- View our entire inventory of reports, including regional studies of green building and water efficiency.
- Sign up for our quarterly COE e-Newsletter.
- Contact the COE for more information on any of these reports.

