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About the Green Jobs Pipeline for Women

Project Background

The New Energy Economy offers an array of new employment opportunities for all Coloradoans. Green jobs, be they in the energy efficiency, renewables or other emerging sectors are growing rapidly across the state. A variety of skill-based training programs are being established to ensure workforce preparedness. A cautionary note, however, is the extent to which women are able to secure these new green jobs.

Several challenges exist for women seeking a green job. Since there are relatively few women now working in the green jobs sector there is not a well established mentoring or peer-to-peer network to help women enter the industry. Women also face a disparity in the wages they are paid; earning only 78% of their male counterparts. There are historic biases and cultural barriers against women working in the trades and energy related jobs as well.

With these factors in mind, the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau awarded a contract in late September 2009 to the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. The 'Green Jobs Pipeline for Women' project is designed to: increase the number of Colorado women who are aware of what green jobs are; determine where the opportunities exist; and, illuminate what skills and training are needed to secure employment.

Download Our Project Description


Mission Statement

The Green Jobs Pipeline for Women Project's mission is to promote the education, training and placement of women throughout the state into the green jobs market. We'll accomplish this by:
  • Expanding the awareness of workforce pipeline resources and services that support women in their search for training and employment opportunities
  • Building a statewide network of organizations committed to promoting green job employment opportunities for women
  • Initiating an outreach program that increases the chances that a woman will identify and secure employment in the green economy

Strategies

To help achieve these goals, we're creating a statewide coalition of organizations to identify and promote a comprehensive set of services and resources that enable women to secure a green job. We will also hold meetings and roundtables around the state to inform women about training and employment opportunities within the green jobs sector. And finally, we'll conduct a survey of organizations (nonprofit, government, private, union and education) that are providing a range of services to support women in their quest to enter the New Energy Economy.

The survey, along with the insights offered by the Coalition, will help identify a set of best practices as well as gaps in the provision of services geared towards supporting women. Our strategy is based on an understanding that women need support throughout their job search pipeline – from initial inquiry through career placement.

Project Team

If you'd like to learn more about this project as it progresses, please email greenjobswomen@sustainablecolorado.org or contact: