A new NREL report, U.S. Hydropower Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities, provides an updated analysis of hydropower workforce trends based on data collected by NREL, WPTO, the Hydropower Foundation, and members of the hydropower industry. The report found that jobs in skilled crafts and trades and engineering services will be impacted by high retirement and turnover rates in hydropower in the next 10 years and identified six pathways to bridge the hydropower workforce gap: online learning; hands-on learning; diversity, equity, and inclusion; career pathways; the Clean Energy Talent Hub; and curricula and certifications. During the 4-year project funded by WPTO, members of the hydropower industry, academics, and students offered perspectives about the hydropower sector, career opportunities, and barriers that could hinder workforce growth.
The new hydropower workforce report is the result of years of research by NREL, DOE, and others in the hydropower industry. It notes a variety of educational approaches that will be needed to bridge the gaps in the hydropower workforce pipeline. Illustration by Alfred Hicks, NREL
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