Definitions and Frequently Asked Questions
About this website and how to navigate it
The New York and New Jersey Offshore Wind Training Website provides key information about offshore wind career pathways, skills requirements, job titles, and associated salary expectations (Explore Career Pathways). The website also maps over 500 facilities offering training toward those jobs (Find Training Locations). For those seeking to build or scale their own offshore wind training program or business, the website lists current funding opportunities (Funding Opportunities). The website also lists training and industry events related to offshore wind (News & Events).
If you are an individual seeking training opportunities to build or further your career in the offshore wind industry, you can use this website in the following ways:
- Click on ‘Explore Career Pathways’ in the navigation tab at the top of the page. Below “Pick a job at any career level”, you will be able to explore potential pathways and jobs across the different phases of an offshore wind project. Whether you are at the start of your career journey, or seeking to enter the industry from your current position, this page allows you to visualize pathways and progression from entry-level positions, to experienced and advanced ones.
- Below ‘Expand any job to see more details’, click on a job to learn more about skills required, typical tasks, salary expectations, and training opportunities.
- Click on one of the associated training opportunities to see where it is offered and access each organization’s website and contact information. Alternatively, you can also click on ‘Find Training Locations’ in the navigation tab at the top of the page to find training locations near you across New York and New Jersey.
If you are an offshore wind training facility provider, you can use this website in the following ways:
- Click on the ‘Funding Opportunities’ page to explore different types of funding available to set up offshore wind training facilities in the United States. You may filter funding opportunities for Federal-, New York-, and New Jersey-specific funding.
- If you are an offshore wind training provider and your program is not listed on the website, use the ‘Contact Us’ page to share your program details. All submitted opportunities are validated before appearing on the website. This process generally takes between 3 and 5 business days.
Training Facilities and Definitions
An apprenticeship is a structured program that often combines hands-on training with classroom instruction, preparing individuals for a specific job role. As an apprentice, you will earn a paycheck while you learn a skilled trade through on-the-job training under the guidance of experienced workers and related classroom training.
Training facilities are different types of schools or organizations that offer training programs to help workers gain the skills and theoretical instruction needed to access different offshore wind jobs.
Direct entry programs allow individuals to enter the workforce without prior industry-specific training, often through accelerated pathways. For example, these programs provide graduates of pre-apprenticeship programs, or those who meet the minimum requirements for a New York or New Jersey State Registered Apprenticeship program, with the direct opportunity to interview for an open apprenticeship slot multiple times a year, outside of the general application process. Participants in these types of programs often receive training on an accelerated timeline, allowing them to transition more quickly into new roles.
GWO certified training are safety and technical training programs accredited by the Global Wind Organization (GWO) and that prepare individuals for jobs in the offshore wind industry. Courses cover essential skills – like working at heights, first aid, fire awareness, and manual handling – to ensure workers understand and meet industry safety standards. To learn more about GWO, visit https://www.globalwindsafety.org.
Ports include waterfront facilities that manufacture and handle primary components for offshore wind projects and will see significant job growth in its surrounding area.
The Categories filter allows site visitors to sort through facilities, and the available training opportunities they offer, based on the type of program they are interested in pursuing and depending on their previous experience/education level.
Categories include: Apprenticeships, Training Facilities, Direct Entry Programs, GWO Certified Training, and Ports.
The ‘Credential Type’ filter groups facilities by the type of educational or skill-based credential individuals may receive upon completion of an academic and/or hands-on training program. There are five types of credentials listed:
- Career and technical education: This includes training opportunities offered at technical high school or K-12 levels.
- Certificate: for individuals that have completed a training program. There are various types of certificates including certificates of completion or skill-building certificates for working professionals. While certain certificates result in industry-recognized credentials (e.g.: OSHA training), other types count towards college credits.
- Journeyworker Credential: for individuals who have successfully completed apprenticeship programs
- Undergraduate: for individuals graduating with an undergraduate degree, such as bachelor and associate degrees.
- Graduate: for individuals graduating with a master or equivalent degree.
To build or further your career as an electrician in the offshore wind industry, follow these next steps:
- Click on the ‘Find Training Locations’ tab at the top of the page
- Use the map (or list) filters to find a training opportunity for the job you are interested in. In this case, select ‘Electrician’ under the “Jobs” filter on the left side of your screen. You can also filter the training opportunities to show only New York or New Jersey opportunities.
- To learn more about an opportunity or contact the training provider, select a facility on the map (or from the list) and use the contact information provided.
Career Pathways
‘Example Job Titles’ refers to specific job names that fall under a broader occupation. An occupation is a general category of work, like "Electrician," while a job title describes a specific role within that occupation, like "Industrial Electrician" or "Maintenance Electrician." These job titles have similar skill requirements, which is why they are listed as examples under the occupation. On this website, when you look at the skills for an occupation, you'll also see related job titles to help you understand what types of roles fit under that occupation.
“Jobs with Transferable Skills” refers to other occupations whose skills can also apply to the occupation being viewed. For example, a “Maintenance Worker” has skills that are applicable to an “Industry Machinery Mechanic”. Therefore, “Industry Machinery Mechanics” will be listed under “Jobs with Transferable Skills” when viewing the description for the “Maintenance Worker” occupation.
Offshore wind is a relatively new industry in the United States, which means that existing job classifications may not yet capture or accurately reflect new types of positions. To designate 'offshore wind jobs' for this website, data was cross-referenced from three sources: (a) the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Standard Occupation Classification System; (b) the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Database; and (c) the NYSERDA’s “New York State Offshore Wind Workforce Gap Analysis Report, 2022”. This data was aligned to arrive at specific jobs designated as offshore wind jobs.
Every apprenticeship listed is approved by the New York State Department of Labor or the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Because this website is a resource specific to careers in offshore wind, only apprenticeships related to occupations within the offshore wind industry were included.
- To learn more about New York apprenticeships, visit the New York State Department of Labor website: https://dol.ny.gov/apprenticeship/overview.
- To learn more about New Jersey apprenticeships, visit the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s website: https://njlwdwfd.my.site.com/NJApprenticeship/s/available-apprenticeships.
Yes! NYSERDA and NJEDA have completed significant research about workforce development in offshore wind. Please follow the links below for research completed to date:.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - U.S. Offshore WInd Workforce Assessment (2022)
- New Jersey Council on the Green Economy - Green Jobs for a Sustainable Future Report
- New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) - New Jersey’s Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment through 2035
- New York State Climate Action Council - New York State Climate Action Council Draft Scoping Plan
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) - New York State Offshore Wind Workforce Gap Analysis, 2022
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) - New York Clean Energy Industry Report
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) - The Workforce Opportunity of Offshore Wind in New York
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) - New York State Disadvantaged Communities Barriers and Opportunities Report
- New York State’s Just Transition Working Group - The Just Transition Working Group 2021 Jobs Study
Funding Opportunities
The Funding Opportunity page is intended for training providers, small businesses and research organizations. Whether you are interested in providing training and educational programs or in advancing the offshore wind industry through technology development and deployment, explore the Funding Opportunities page to start or expand an existing offshore wind-related training program.
For individuals seeking funding/scholarships to pursue offshore wind training programs, click on the ‘Offshore Wind Locations Training Map’ tab and find funding/scholarship details associated with the respective training facility listed on the map.
Getting in Touch
If you don’t see a training opportunity you know exists, please share the information via the Contact Us page. Submissions will be answered within 3 to 5 business days.
All new training opportunities submitted through the “Contact Us” page will be validated before they appear on the website. Generally, this process can take up to 3 to 5 business days.