The report identifies key careers to achieve net-zero emissions in Colorado by 2050 and recommends strategies to fill gaps in the state’s projected climate workforce
Denver - Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 - The Colorado Energy Office (CEO), with support from the Colorado Department of Transportation and in coordination with the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), released its first-ever Colorado Climate Workforce Analysis & Plan Tuesday. This report, which was funded by a federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant alongside state funding, assesses current and future climate workforce needs, identifies training pathways and best practices to build an equitable workforce, and recommends next steps to grow the workforce in key areas.
“The simple truth is that clean energy creates good jobs and economic growth. These innovative technologies are protecting air quality and the environment, while creating new opportunities for our state’s workforce. We’re proud to be a leader in clean energy action, and support a strong workforce needed to drive innovation and achieve our climate goals,” said Governor Jared Polis.
A robust climate workforce is essential to implement the state’s plan to reduce emissions across all economic sectors, and increase such good-paying jobs as electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians.
“The climate workforce is the backbone of our clean energy transition,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “We could not do this without the people who build energy efficient and electric homes, install solar panels and geothermal systems, and service our electric vehicles and charging stations. This report and its recommendations will help ensure our workforce is on track to support the widespread adoption of new technologies, meeting our needs not just today, but many years into the future.”
By identifying expected gaps and barriers to participating in the climate workforce, the findings from this report will enable the state, local governments, and training providers to better coordinate efforts to develop Colorado’s workforce in key areas. The report analyzes Colorado’s climate action plan to identify 20 “climate critical occupations,” which are those with the largest gaps between projected growth and the expected demand to achieve the state’s climate goals. Some occupations with the largest expected gaps are:
Electricians
Construction laborers and managers
Wind turbine service technicians
Solar panel installers
Power-line installers/repair technicians
EV automotive technicians
HVAC technicians trained in heat pump technology
Efforts to fill these workforce gaps will likely include a combination of upskilling the current workforce and training new Coloradans entering the workforce to install and service clean energy technologies. Each occupation faces its own challenges to growing its workforce, such as the need for training opportunities in rural areas, lack of specific technological expertise in the existing workforce, and shortages of qualified training instructors. New entrants into the workforce also experience financial barriers, need for childcare and/or transportation, and lack of access to training opportunities offered in their language.
This report recommends a number of strategies to address these challenges, such as:
Facilitating early exposure to climate careers in K-12 schools
Creating more training options across the state, especially in rural areas
Strengthening Registered Apprenticeship programs for critical occupations
Improving coordination among entities in the climate workforce space, such as the state and local governments, training providers, industry, and workforce organizations
Coordinating efforts to improve access to training and employment opportunities, with a focus on rural and rural resort communities
“Achieving Colorado’s ambitious climate goals depends on our ability to rapidly train a skilled, diverse pipeline of talent across our state,” said CWDC Managing Director Lee Wheeler-Berliner. “The Colorado Climate Workforce Analysis & Plan provides a framework to focus the collective actions required to reach our climate and workforce goals. We must move to action collaboratively. The CWDC looks forward to working with the Energy Office to scale proven workforce strategies as well as innovate new opportunities to close gaps and seize this generational opportunity for the benefit of Coloradans, our environment, and our economy.”
This report is part of Colorado’s larger efforts to develop the climate workforce, which also includes a Registered Apprenticeship through the Weatherization Assistance Program, funding to support upskilling and new training programs through the Training for Residential Energy Contractors grant, and a Zero Emissions Vehicle Workforce Development group.
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