Within Central Puget Sound, a collaborative of cross-sector representatives is seeking to address similar challenges, particularly within the green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) field. Launched in 2020, the GSI Workforce Collaborative identified three key challenges that were limiting a sustainable green infrastructure workforce:
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Inequitable and unreliable career opportunities
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Funding instability to consistently support a workforce
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Lack of cross-sector coordination within the field.
The Collaborative aims to serve as a space to both problem-solve around significant challenges in the GSI workforce development space, and to co-create projects and products that serve as solutions to these challenges. (See Building Equitable and Sustainable Careers Report )
To better understand the existing landscape of GSI training and career opportunities, the GSI Workforce Collaborative commissioned a report by the Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI) with a focus on the GSI workforce ecosystem as well as understanding the gaps and opportunities to increase access and equity within the GSI field in the Puget Sound Region. Through a literature review, data analysis and interviews, the resulting report and associated dashboard look at GSI Lifecycle and Occupations; Career Paths and Accessibility, including wages; and Workforce Demographics.
This report highlighted several recommendations to support access and equity within the GSI field. When combined with discussions within the GSI Workforce Collaborative and other practitioners, there are clear areas of focus that we can collectively address to support growth of the green infrastructure workforce:
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Support local economic growth by increasing direct community engagement and accessibility to the job skills/training needed for the design, implementation, and maintenance of green infrastructure.
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Expand opportunities for entry-level positions within green infrastructure to support skill-building and highlight potential career pathways that build from entry level positions
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Increase wages for those engaged in the work of green stormwater infrastructure, particularly in the field of installation and maintenance
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Through collaboration between educators, practitioners, and employers, build visibility and clarity around the relevant skills for these roles, including experience needed to progress in the field, to grow and train an equitable green infrastructure workforce
