Clean Energy Freedom
Inspiring Americans to Take up Skilled Trade Careers in Clean Energy
Services
Audience Insights
Messaging
Funding is there for clean energy, but the workers are not.
The clean energy industry estimates that we could need as many as 1 million skilled trade workers in the coming years thanks to historic public investments. And the U.S. needs to grow interest to meet the growing demand for these jobs – which is where Clean Energy Freedom (CEF) comes in.
CEF is working to propel the United States toward energy independence by helping recruit and develop a new generation of clean energy workers as diverse as the nation those workers serve.
They brought on our team to explore the messages, voices, and platforms that will persuade Americans to consider a clean energy career path.
Findings
The benefits of a clean energy career
Through a series of expert interviews, focus groups, and deep-dive discussions with the audience, we found that clean energy jobs are—first and foremost—trade jobs. Whatever the perceptions of outsiders, trade workers are in on a secret: they’re great jobs, with good pay, solid benefits, clear career paths, and training that ensures upward mobility.
And among trade jobs, clean energy is the most stable and fastest-growing industry in the country. It’s a chance for worker to invest in themselves, and build the future of American energy—putting themselves and their families on the fast track to a better life and a more resilient future.
Insights
Motivating the audience
While the value proposition for clean energy jobs is clear, workers aren’t exploring the field. This is due to a lack of understanding of the specific opportunity, skepticism of “green” initiatives, and a stubborn stigma around trade work.
We uncovered that workers are most motivated by positive messaging that speaks to local opportunities and individual value, across three categories of benefits.
Audience prioritization
Key inflection points
Beyond the benefits, we uncovered four key career inflection points that prompt workers to seek out change and create openness to new paths.
Jon van Gelder, Global Head of Impact, Clean Energy Freedom