The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an increase in global civilian job loss. As the market crashed, employment security decreased. Fears over future job protections led to the unionization of various positions.
A rise in eco-consciousness heightened the demand for green power jobs, and increased interest in renewable energy employment contributed to the recent unionization of positions in this industry. Most importantly, the drive for environmental employment led to the development of the Climate Union Jobs Act.
What Is the Climate Union Jobs Act?
The Climate Union Jobs Act started in Illinois and protects workers in the environmental conservation industry. It secures employees hourly pay, work conditions, and more.
This act also protects energy jobs that transfer to renewable energy positions. Furthermore, the bill addresses economic and racial disparities in the industry to reduce discrimination. It also helps communities that rely on conventional energy jobs transfer to renewable power.
The bill increases the accessibility of green electricity to the public, too. It will offer $50 million to install solar panels on and around public schools. An additional $30 million will go towards converting public school buses to electric vehicles.
These plans will create more jobs in the renewable energy industry and save public schools money on fuel and electricity over time. Increasing the community’s access to eco-friendly power and creating secured employment with benefits can increase job satisfaction while safeguarding the planet.
Renewable Energy Jobs
We can expect to see an increase in renewable energy employment in the coming years. Around three-fourths of Millennials report being willing to take a pay reduction to work for an environmentally-conscious organization over their less-sustainable counterparts. The heightened demand for these positions allows renewable energy companies to grow.
There are various positions one can take in this industry. You can become a wind turbine and solar panel salesperson, consultant, installer, engineer, or maintenance technician. Some indirect renewable energy jobs are green power lawyers, accountants, and advisors.
The green energy industry currently employs one million workers in the U.S. As this employment number increases and unionization advances, the industry will change for the better.
Renewable Energy Industry Growth
The pandemic led to increased interest in unionized positions. Not only are union jobs more secure than conventional employment, but they also offer higher salaries and greater protections against discrimination.
Unionized employees earn nearly 11.2% more than non-unionized workers in the same industry. Minority workers also benefit from these positions, making around 20.1% more annually than employees with the same job in a non-unionized company. The equality offered by unions can help expand the number of workers in the industry and bolster their work performance.
The current efficiency levels of solar panels run between 15% and 20% on average. With further research and engineering, this number should increase. Unionizing renewable energy positions could attract more scientists to the industry who may improve solar panel efficiency rates further.
With more workers looking for positions in environmental companies and unionized jobs, the renewable energy industry will expand. As employment increases, citizens’ access to green electricity will rise. Many residents and businesses are looking to install wind turbines and solar panels on their property to shrink their carbon footprint. The Climate Union Jobs Act can make that possible.
The demand for renewable energy installation may also increase due to the unionization of jobs in the industry. When workers enjoy their positions, they are more likely to speak highly of their company outside work. This form of organic promotion can, in turn, boost residents’ and businesses’ interest in green energy.
The Future of Renewable Energy Work
As renewable energy jobs unionize, we can expect to see an increase in the size of green power companies. When this transition occurs, we will view a rise in equality, diversity, and worker protection among industry employers. If employees feel represented and valued at work, we can expect to see similar increases in customer attraction and team performance.
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