Workforce Development

As California’s economy continues to transition to support clean energy and transportation, improved mobility, and sustainable land use and management, workforce needs will evolve. The types of available jobs and skills needed to obtain and progress in those careers will also change. California Climate Investments is helping to facilitate this transition through dedicated workforce development and training, establishing partnerships with training programs and academic institutions, and investing in projects that provide employment opportunities while facilitating greenhouse gas emissions reductions. For example, some programs are focused specifically on developing the workforce for a low carbon future, funding job training and workforce development in building energy efficiency and forestry sectors.

Workforce Development Updates

In response to the passage of Assembly Bill 680 in 2021, CARB updated the Funding Guidelines for Agencies that Administer California Climate Investments to incorporate workforce standards that support the creation of high-quality jobs in applicable California Climate Investments programs.

Investments in Action: Projects Supporting Workforce Development

Funded California Climate Investments Projects

Funding ZEV Workforce Training and Career Development for Priority Populations

Sierra Institute High Road to Tribal Forest Restoration and Stewardship

Kompogas SLO Inc. is Creating Fuel and Compost with Waste

Expanding Energy Storage and Microgrid Training and Certification

New Community Composting Program Sequesters Carbon While Providing Local-Level Benefits

Long Beach Urban Wood Recovery Apprenticeship Program Prepares Youth for the Future Workforce

Next-generation Refrigeration in New Stater Bros. Markets Grocery Store

Paving the Way for Zero-Emission Freight Facilities in Long Beach

Greening the Yellow Brick Road Project Transforms Street into a Symbol of Activity and Hope

Urban Wood Rescue Project Trains Youth and Sequesters Carbon

Solar PV and Energy Efficiency Upgrades Benefit Low-income Residents in San Diego

High-Speed Rail Construction Prioritizes Jobs and Sustainability

High-Speed Rail Project Prioritizes Co-Benefits and Sustainable Construction Practices

High-Speed Rail Project Provides Job Training and Career Advancement Opportunities

Pre-Apprenticeship Training Student Lands Job on High-Speed Rail

Microgrid Brings Efficiency and Resilience to Food Processing Facility in Coachella

Expanding the Wholesale Produce Market Recovery Program in Los Angeles

Closed-Loop Recycling Solutions for Irrigation in the Central Coast

Reducing Emissions and Providing Jobs Through Glass Recycling in Victorville

Collective Biogas Operation Reduces Emissions from Multiple Central Valley Dairies

Dairy Digester Program Expands Student Research Opportunities and Supports Jobs

Reducing Exposure to Air Pollution with Electric School Buses in El Monte

Growing Trees and Community Capacity in San Bernardino County

Training the Next Generation of Energy Efficiency Professionals in Sacramento

California Conservation Corps Completes Critical Fuel Break Project in Auberry

Transform Fresno Initiative Brings Solar and Energy Efficiency Projects to Low-income Households

Demonstrating Regenerative Agriculture through Education, Training, and Research

Escondido Anaerobic Digester Reduces Emissions and Provides Local Jobs

Anaerobic Digester Brings Biofuels and Jobs to Perris

Advanced Composting Facility Diverts Organic Waste in Kerman

Programs that Fund Workforce Development and Training

Learn about all past and present programs that fund workforce development and training, including programs that are not actively receiving California Climate Investments funding.

All Programs

IDEAL ZEV Workforce Pilot Project

The Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Accessible, and Local (IDEAL) Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Workforce Pilot funds projects that support ZEVs, ZEV infrastructure, and ZEV-related commercial technologies in California, with focus on priority populations.

High Road Training Partnerships

The California Workforce Development Board will develop industry-based, worker-focused training partnerships that connect California’s “high road” employers with existing established workforce development programs to build skills and capacity for training and employment within various employment sectors.

Fire Engines and Maintenance

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) will fund the procurement and maintenance of fire engines for local fire agencies and support of the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System. The goal of the program is to increase and maintain emergency response capabilities within the State’s Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System in order to help protect communities from wildfires and other disasters.

Wildfire Response and Readiness

Local assistance grants to fire departments within High Hazard Severity Zones to pre-position emergency services crews and equipment during red flag events in order to protect communities from wildfires.

Training and Workforce Development Program

Through the Training and Workforce Development Program, the California Conservation Corps employs young adults for a year of service resulting in job skills and work experience to launch meaningful careers. Corpsmembers implement forest fuel reduction, habitat restoration, and energy efficiency projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects

Advanced Technology Freight Demonstration Projects provide funding for pre-commercial demonstrations of advanced vehicles, engines, equipment, and transportation systems. These advanced technology projects demonstrate zero-emission or near zero-emission vehicles and equipment that use less petroleum and emit less GHG emissions.

California Climate Investments Job Quality Principles

Workforce development efforts should achieve social, economic, and environmental co-benefits by improving job quality and access to high-quality jobs for priority populations, women, those facing barriers to employment, and others that have been underserved or underrepresented. A high-quality job facilitates an individual’s economic mobility by providing, at minimum, compensation at or above the regional median wage and offers vacation and sick leave, training opportunities, and retirement benefits featuring an employer contribution. Access to high-quality jobs and training opportunities fosters economic security.

Read the Funding Guidelines for Agencies that Administer California Climate Investments to learn more about California Climate Investments Job Quality Principles, which include wage and benefit standards, training pathways and upward mobility, local and targeted hiring mechanisms, supportive organizational culture, worker voice and representation, and workplace safety.

What is Assembly Bill 680?

Assembly Bill 680 directed CARB to work with the California Workforce Development Board to update the Funding Guidelines to provide guidance on the following workforce standards for certain California Climate Investments programs:

Fair and responsible employer standards
Inclusive procurement policies
Prevailing wage for construction work
Community workforce agreements for construction projects > $1,000,000
Preference for projects with educational/training partnerships
Preference to applicants that demonstrate creation of high-quality jobs

Applicability

The bill is limited to programs that receive continuous Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriations. Assembly Bill 680 and subsequent legislation exempted three of these programs, leaving the following four programs subject to the Assembly Bill 680 requirements:

Assembly Bill 680 then establishes exemptions for projects that involve federal funding, 100% affordable unit housing projects, technical assistance, research, and applicants that are not employers. The end result of these exemptions is a specific subset of projects for which there is a compliance obligation under the bill. Although these standards are only required for a subset of California Climate Investments programs and projects, all programs are encouraged to incorporate the job quality principles in the Funding Guidelines for Agencies that Administer California Climate Investments to support a robust workforce in the new, low-carbon economy and improve access to high-quality jobs.

Jobs Reporting

Some agencies administering California Climate Investments projects report information on jobs, which reflects actual employment associated with a project. View the most up-to-date jobs reporting template here.

In addition to jobs reporting, CARB also tracks the economic impacts of California Climate Investments through the Jobs Co-Benefit Assessment Methodology. This methodology uses information about general project expenses and known relationships between various economic sectors to prospectively estimate the number of direct, indirect, and induced jobs supported by California Climate Investments projects.

Directly Supported Jobs: Labor needed to complete work for a California Climate Investments project (e.g., housing construction, ecosystem restoration).
Indirectly Supported Jobs: Labor related to the supply chains that support projects. Funding a project generates demand for materials and equipment to complete the project, leading to expanded production and employment in upstream industries (e.g., manufacturing construction equipment, zero‑emission vehicle parts, solar panel components).
Induced Jobs: Labor related to the spending of income from directly and indirectly supported jobs which in turn stimulates demand for goods and services in the wider California economy.

Though the Job Co-Benefit Assessment Methodology provides general estimates of the direct, indirect, and induced jobs, it cannot estimate when these jobs will occur, how long the jobs will last, or any metrics related to job quality. Read the Annual Report to the Legislature on California Climate Investments Using Cap and Trade Auction Proceeds to view the latest modeled jobs estimates.

Jobs Reporting Resources and Policy Guidance

Featured Resources

Featured

Priority Populations Benefit Criteria Tables

California Air Resources Board

Benefit Criteria Tables are used by administering agencies and applicants to identify the priority populations that will benefit from the project, and determine how the project will meaningfully address an important community or household need and provide a benefit.

Quantification, Benefits, and Reporting Materials

California Air Resources Board

Administering agencies must use CARB tools to develop effective programs and demonstrate compliance with program requirements. Resources on this page include quantification methodologies and calculator tools for estimating GHG emissions reductions and co-benefits; benefit criteria tables for determining benefits to priority populations; and reporting templates for reporting outcomes.

Job Co-benefit Assessment Methodology

California Air Resources Board

Provides uniform methods that can be applied statewide and are accessible by all applicants and funding recipients, uses existing and proven tools or methods, where available, and identifies the appropriate data needed to calculate co-benefits.

State & Federal Program Implementation Resources

The resources included below were developed by state and federal agencies and include recommendations for public programs on how to design, monitor, and evaluate programs to support high-quality jobs.

Featured Resources

Featured

Standards for Mental Health in the Workplace

Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission

California has five voluntary standards that organizations may adopt to support the mental health of their employees. The standards can help organizations create policies and processes to address mental health in the workplace in ways that meet employee needs.. Learn more about how creating a positive workplace culture and supporting mental health improves job quality.

California Department of Civil Rights Complaint Process

Department of Civil Rights

The California Department of Civil Rights investigates claims related to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Read about how to file a complaint, responding to a complaint, possible outcomes, and more.

Good Jobs Principles

United States Department of Labor

The federal Department of Labor champions job quality through this list of good job principles. These eight principles create a framework for workers, businesses, labor unions, advocates, researchers, state and local governments, and federal agencies for a shared vision of job quality.

Project Labor Agreements as Tools for Equity

United States Department of Labor

Labor agreements can be used to uplift underserved workers. Explore example project labor agreements across the US.

Project Labor, Community Workforce, and Community Benefits Agreements Resource Guide

United States Department of Labor

Labor agreements build job quality into a project before starting work. Learn about project labor, community workforce, and community benefits agreements and how and if they are enforced.

DIR, Division of Apprenticeship Standards