The Solar Training Network is introducing AmericanSolarWorkforce.org, a comprehensive online platform to help solar companies recruit qualified candidates; allow solar job seekers to find career and training opportunities; and help the entire industry build a strong and diverse solar workforce.
AmericanSolarWorkforce.org is managed by the Solar Training Network, a program led by The Solar Foundation and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. This online tool, a revised and improved version of an earlier online platform, was unveiled today at Solar Power International (SPI) in Anaheim, California.
Using this platform, which is free of charge, employers can post opportunities on a solar job board and connect with thousands of candidates looking for solar career opportunities. Employers can also create company profiles, review candidate applications, and communicate with potential hires.
Solar career seekers can create attractive profiles, apply for jobs, identify training providers, and make connections with solar companies. The platform also allows community colleges, workforce boards, and local nonprofits to create directory listings and build relationships with solar employers and candidates.
“This new online platform helps meet an urgent need for top-quality solar employees across the United States,” said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director at The Solar Foundation. “The platform allows solar employers to expand their networks and make valuable connections with job seekers, training providers, and workforce development professionals in their area. We now invite all solar companies and job candidates to create a free account at AmericanSolarWorkforce.org.”
The Solar Training Network developed this platform following a 2017 report, Solar Training Hiring and Insights, which reported that a majority of solar employers found current job board services insufficient or difficult to use.
“As the U.S. solar industry continues to rapidly grow, connecting solar companies with a diverse pool of top-notch candidates will allow the industry to not only expand, but thrive,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. “I’d encourage every solar company and solar job seeker to take advantage of this platform’s free tools and resources.”
“As a growing industry, it is our responsibility to attract and train a diverse workforce with the skills necessary to build a cleaner energy future,” said Cameron Bard, Director of Operations at Cypress Creek Renewables. “Cypress Creek is proactively investing in workforce development in communities throughout the country, and today’s launch of the Solar Training Network’s new website strengthens our goal to expand job opportunities for the next generation of solar professionals. We’re proud to partner with The Solar Foundation to celebrate the unveiling of this critically important platform.”
AmericanSolarWorkforce.org builds on the Solar Training Network’s research, which found a large majority of solar employers find it difficult to hire qualified candidates. It is a counterpart to a new toolkit, Strategies for Workforce Development, which outlines steps for solar companies to engage with local workforce development resources and build a pipeline of talented employees.
To that end, the online platform also includes a clearinghouse for original research and other resources to support solar workforce development. It features a “Solar Panel” with advice from workforce experts, and a shared news and events page for users to post updates.
Other Activities At SPI from The Solar Foundation
At SPI this week, The Solar Foundation is engaged in several other efforts as part of its mission to accelerate solar energy adoption:
• The Solar Foundation will soon be in the field with a survey for the upcoming National Solar Jobs Census, an annual report on solar employment at the national, state, and local levels. Industry attendees at SPI are encouraged to fill out the survey to support the next Census, due out in early 2019.
• The Solar Foundation and the Solar Energy Industries Association announced Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP), a new initiative to streamline the permitting in the United States. The Solar Foundation is engaged in other efforts to reduce soft costs through SolSmart, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to help local governments reduce barriers to solar development.
• And one year after Hurricane Maria caused the largest blackout in U.S. history, The Solar Foundation is leading major solar and storage installations in Puerto Rico through Solar Saves Lives.
About The Solar Foundation®
The Solar Foundation® is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate adoption of the world’s most abundant energy source. Through its leadership, research, and capacity building, The Solar Foundation creates transformative solutions to achieve a prosperous future in which solar and solar-compatible technologies are integrated into all aspects of our lives. Learn more at TheSolarFoundation.org
