Workforce Development
Strengthening our Offshore Wind Talent Pipeline
As demand for highly specialized offshore wind jobs continues to increase, Rhode Island is prepared to meet it.
Offshore wind is a fast-growing industry supporting hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs across the country, and thanks to Rhode Island’s investments in workforce development, we’re creating many of those jobs right here in the Ocean State. Whether you’re a high schooler aspiring to a career in clean energy; a university student seeking fulfilling and family-supporting work; an unemployed or underemployed Rhode Islander seeking employment in a stable and fulfilling industry; or a current wind worker looking for additional skills and certifications, Rhode Island has a program for you. With an incredible pipeline of talented workers, Rhode Island is poised to continue leading the nation’s offshore wind industry for generations to come.
Research & Higher Education
Rhode Island is called “the ocean state” for a reason. We have long-been known for our leadership in ocean-related academics, industry, and innovation. We can bring together leaders in defense, maritime, research, and environmental disciplines to create cutting-edge ocean science solutions. As examples, the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) are world-renowned for their contributions to ocean science.
Highly Specialized Job Training
With a vibrant higher education ecosystem, and collaborative workforce development training programs – including our Global Wind Organization (GWO) Training program as well as our Wind Win RI program – the state has and will continue to train tomorrow’s workers today.
Institutions across the state are realizing the benefit of introducing wind and renewable energy programs into their curriculum, and wind-specific pilot programs have been introduced at both the middle and high school levels. Additionally, the Real Jobs RI program (opens a PDF in a new tab), housed within the Department of Labor and Training, boasts a flexible, industry-driven job training program that proactively meets the needs of employers.
Sample Workforce Data - 60 Minute Commute from Providence
| Occupation | Number of Employees | LQ* |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 460 | 1.11 |
| Industrial Engineers | 6,279 | 1.32 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | 713 | 3.72 |
| Materials Engineers | 432 | 0.98 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 5,820 | 1.14 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians | 2,423 | 1.16 |
| Environmental Engineering Technicians | 424 | 1.34 |
| Materials Scientists | 253 | 2.23 |
| Structural Iron and Steelworkers | 1,436 | 1.12 |
Source: JobsEQ®
Data as of 08/17/20
*Location Quotient (LQ) is a ratio of the concentration of talent in a given industry in Rhode Island to that of the national average (LQ = Rhode Island Industry Concentration / National Average). US average = 1.