Page 25: of Marine News Magazine (February 2023)

24 26

Feature

Training & Education effort now. OSW adds new competitive pressures. that terminal crews may not expand much because of

Of course, adjacent hiring can work both ways. Now OSW. The report cites 2018 data when U.S. ports gen- that workforce programs are gearing up to train thou- erated 652,078 direct jobs. In 2024 new OSW jobs sands of individuals in skills directly applicable to many could number between 300 and 1,100, then maybe in- port and vessel operations the entire maritime workforce crease to 500 and 2,000 in 2030. For ports and staging, could see substantial increases. After all, a person trained NREL writes that OSW will likely add a small fraction to work on a vessel may not care if an employer is a towing to total employment.

company or an energy company. New OSW workforce NREL developed a model to estimate onboard employ- and training programs could help broader maritime in- ment. In 2024 the model estimates 1,500 new jobs. In dustry challenges. 2030, around 2,800 if the workforce is 100% domestic. If

Another factor within OSW development is that em- the workforce is 25% domestic, the 2024 number is below ployment itself is a major social and policy goal. Federal 500 and 2030 is just a bit above 500. The U.S. Bureau of and state announcements about OSW projects almost al- Labor Statistics estimates there were 75,400 Water Trans- ways reference new, high-quality, well-paying (frequently portation Workers in the U.S. in 2021. BLS doesn’t expect union) jobs that pay at a scale that will support a family, much change in the next 10 years, about 1%. not just an individual. Plus, decisions about automation at ports may not always proceed in a straightforward man-

Training starting – but at what scale? ner since automation can have a big impact on jobs. Port

To meet green energy deadlines for power and employ- automation has been a high pro? le and controversial topic ment education and training programs need to start quick- within recent federal legislation.

ly and scale up.

Last September, NYSERDA released a report: “New York

State Offshore Wind Workforce Gap Analysis, 2022.” The

Employment: Seeking focus

On December 1, the New York State Energy Research report includes all occupations associated with OSW, not and Development Authority – NYSERDA – announced a just direct maritime employment. By 2040, New York proj- new website “that will empower New Yorkers to become ects its OSW employment will grow by 18,000 to 23,000 a part of the renewable energy workforce.” NYSERDA jobs. Most jobs will be in manufacturing, construction and writes that New York’s green energy goals – which seeks to “induced industries,” i.e., work resulting from employees’ develop 9000MW of OSW by 2035 – will “foster at least spending their paychecks. New York predicts “severe gaps” 10,000 family-sustaining jobs for New Yorkers.” in four occupations: plant and system operators, hoist and

In New Jersey, the Council on the Green Economy pre- winch operators, continuous mining machine operators dicts that OSW will result in a net gain of 95,317 jobs and wind turbine service technicians (Titles are SOC titles from 2021 to 2031. – “standard occupational classi? cation”).

Employment projections always include some uncer- In the maritime sector, moderate gaps are projected for tainty, of course. The Department of Energy’s National marine engineers and naval architects, sailors and marine

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published a report oilers, and captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in September 2022 titled “US Offshore Wind Workforce (again, SOC job titles).

Assessment.” The report breaks out employment across New York’s analysis identi? ed 24 wind energy-speci? c ? ve sectors – training programs across the State. These are not all spe- • Development ci? c to OSW, but the training is considered transferable. • Manufacturing and supply chain Most are bachelor’s degree engineering programs. A new • Ports and staging OSW program is starting at Suffolk County Commu- • Maritime construction, and, nity College, but details were not available for New York’s • Operations and maintenance. Gap report.

In a closer look at Ports and Staging NREL writes Six programs are in development at various New York www.marinelink.com MN 25|