Slideshow by Jenifer Becker from Karp Strategies. This presentation was given during "Our Blue Economy" World Water Day breakfast panel on 22nd of March, 2018. This event was organized by the NY Blue Tech Network, and hosted by the Consulate General of the Netherlands and Grand Central Tech.

1. NEW YORK CITY’S
RESILIENCY LABOR MARKET
Opportunities and Challenges
for Entry-Level Workers
in the Resiliency Workforce
World Water Day 2018: Our Blue Economy
March 22, 2018
Jenifer Becker

2. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 2
AGENDA
• Background
• Industry Breakdown
• General Findings
• Job Requirements
• Key Sector Findings
- Construction
- Building O&M
• Summary

3. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 3

4. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 4

5. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 5

6. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 6
BACKGROUND
• Southwest Brooklyn
Industrial Dev. Corp.
• Good Shepherd Services
• Red Hook Initiative
• Brooklyn Workforce
Innovations
• RETI Advisory Committee
CLIENT
COLLABORATIVE
Identify components of the
resiliency sector and specific
employment opportunities
and challenges for Red
Hook residents
PROJECT GOAL
Workforce development
programs that align with
resiliency job opportunities
POST STUDY
OUTCOME

7. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 7
INDUSTRY
Resiliency Project Types
• Coastal Protection
• Flood Plain Protection
• Renewable Energy
• Wastewater & Solid Waste Mgmt.
• Energy Efficiency
• Transportation Repair
• Emergency Management
BREAKDOWN
Economic industries
with resiliency-related
activities
Establishments (2015)
22
33
thousand
430
thousand
Employees (2015)

8. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 8
RESILIENCY OCCUPATIONS
*Identified by employers through
consultant team's qualitative research
INDUSTRY BREAKDOWN
Less than a High School
Degree or Equivalent
High School Degree
or Equivalent
More Than A High School Diploma
or Equivalent, But Less Than
a Bachelor's Degree
Construction laborers
Construction & maintenance
painters
Janitors & cleaners
Landscaping & grounds keeping
workers*
Maids & housekeeping cleaners
Carpenters
Concierges
Electricians & electrician helpers
Helpers—installation, maintenance
& repair workers*
Plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters
Roofers*
Secretaries & administrative
assistants
Security guards
Sheet metal workers
Solar photovoltaic installers*
Solar thermal installers &
technicians*
Stationary engineers and boiler
operators*
Bookkeeping, accounting &
auditing clerks
EMTs & paramedics
Heating, air conditioning &
refrigeration mechanics

9. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 9
GENERAL FINDINGS
Construction is the largest resiliency-related sector, followed
by real estate; both are projected to grow between 2012-2022
Many jobs in the resiliency market are seasonal, with the main
exception of those in building maintenance
Majority of entry-level positions require a H.S. diploma or
equivalent
Most businesses (we spoke to) are small and project growth
over the next five years, albeit in small numbers at individual
firms
Training programs are seen as a useful filtering mechanism;
most employers rely on on-the-job training
1
2
3
4
5

10. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 10
JOB REQUIREMENTS
HS DIPLOMA
or equivalent
1-3
PRIOR JOBS
PHYSICAL
strength +
stamina
INTEREST
in the
resiliency
field
positive
ATTITUDE
candidate
REQUIREMENTS
© Karp Strategies (2016)
Employers almost
universally expressed
that the ideal candidate
possesses five qualities
and proficiencies
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

11. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 11
Driver’s License
Very helpful but not strictly
necessary; relevant for promotion
Residency
Only important as pertains to
getting to work on time
Criminal Record
Most employers were open to
hiring someone with a criminal
background, but have qualifications
regarding the type of offense
English Language
Critical for most employers to
communicate safely on the job; written
and spoken English skills relevant for
promotion
Age
Minimum age is 18; most employers
showed preference for mid-20s due to
perceived maximum physical strength
and likelihood of prior work experience
Training
Useful but unnecessary; OJT likely
provided for entry-level positions
JOB REQUIREMENTS
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

12. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 12
CONSTRUCTION
• 2015: 139,552 employees; 12,994 firms
• Cyclical and seasonal
• Employment projected to grow by 19% between
2012 - 2022
—— Solar installation likely to remain steady or
increase modestly
—— Battery installation likely to increase but timing
remains unclear
• Same desired qualifications as general findings;
additional training and certifications required for
solar installers
• Apart from union-related apprenticeship programs,
few training programs in the construction trades
• Self-selection/hiring bias may exist for women and
older men
• Work hours (early starts, night shifts) may be a
challenge for some

13. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 13
• 2015: 153,565 employees; 19,998 firms (real estate &
services to buildings)
• Employment projected to grow by 9% between
2012 - 2022
—— DEP projecting to hire ~ 200 bioswale
maintenance workers
—— Unionized sector is experiencing slight decline
• Year-round occupation; not seasonal or cyclical
• Real annual wages have risen between 2005-2015
• Same required traits and characteristics as general
findings; additional training and certifications required
for HVAC jobs
• Entry-level jobs do not always require a high school
diploma
• Limited number of training programs, especially for
landscaping and non-unionized building maintenance
• Self-selection/hiring bias may exist for women and
older men
BUILDING O&M

14. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 14
SUMMARY OVERALL OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Opportunities
• Clear growth in certain resiliency industries
and subsectors with potential for training
program opportunities within the market
• Several employers interested in training that
arises from this study
• Room to develop partnerships with
particular employers
• Leverage local hiring requirements and
intentions
Challenges
• Many resiliency-related sectors
are seasonal
• Project implementation pipeline
is still unclear for large-scale
construction projects
• Limited gaps in training providers
but quality of offerings has not
been assessed

15. New York City’s Resiliency Labor Market 15
RESULTS
ANALYSIS TO ACTION
Graduation of 2018 BWI Solar Panel Installation Class

16. THANK YOU
Jenifer Becker | Director
Karp Strategies
26 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10004
jen@karpstrategies.com
+973 769 6512