Washington, D.C. — The labor and workforce training standards included in the Inflation Reduction Act will ensure that the transition to a clean energy economy is built with good jobs, according to a new analysis from the Center for American Progress.
“This law raises the standard when it comes to the quality of jobs and offering pathways for training skilled workers in the clean energy industry,” said Mike Williams, a senior fellow at CAP and co-author of the analysis. “It is a model for how the government can invest taxpayer funds in a safer, cleaner future for the country while creating good jobs.”
Under the new legislation, the federal government will provide clean energy industries long-term support by extending tax credits for 10 years. This support is tied to standards and incentives that give more Americans access to registered apprenticeships and high-quality jobs in the clean energy industry.
The law’s prevailing wage requirements will support high-quality jobs because they require subsidized firms to pay workers at least the going market rate. These requirements will help prevent these massive federal investments from driving down wages for construction workers as contractors compete for the lowest bids.
Likewise, registered apprenticeships can help support a steady pipeline of well-qualified workers, provide a pathway into good jobs, and diversify the construction workforce.
Read the issue brief: “The Inflation Reduction Act Provides Pathways to High-Quality Jobs” by Mike Williams, Marina Zhavoronkova, and David Madland
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].