Release: Mayor Joe Hogsett, Office of Sustainability, and EmployIndy Celebrate Achievement of Another Thrive Goal from City's Sustainability Plan

The number of green jobs available for young people in Indy has grown more than 300%, aligning with the UN's 2023 International Youth Day theme: Green Skills for Youth
 


INDIANAPOLIS –  The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability today announced the achievement of a tenth action item outlined in Thrive Indianapolis, the city's sustainability and resilience action plan that charts a course to citywide carbon neutrality by 2050. The goal, "expand partnerships with sustainability-related businesses and organizations to offer green job opportunities to Indianapolis youth through Project Indy," is being tracked by utilizing data courtesy of EmployIndy's youth jobs platform.

Green jobs are those that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources. The number of green jobs for youth in Indy has grown from the 2019 baseline of 189 to 522 in 2022 and an estimated 654 for 2023.

"People may not immediately understand the connection between our local economy and the climate crisis, but the reality is the two are closely intertwined." said Mayor Joe Hogsett. "As our society moves quickly toward electrification and a stronger defense of natural resources, we need a workforce that is equipped with the necessary technical knowledge and skills -- and that starts with young people." 

This Saturday, August 12 is recognized as International Youth Day, an annual celebration led by the United Nations. This year's theme, Green Skills For Youth: Towards a Sustainable World , highlights how the global shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly planet will depend on the development of green skills in the population. While green skills are relevant for people of all ages, they have heightened importance for younger people, who can contribute to the green transition for a longer period of time. 

The following local employers have listed youth green job opportunities on Project Indy:

  • Indy Parks

  • TeenWorks

  • Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

  • Groundwork Indy

  • Indianapolis Zoo

  • Indiana Reclamation and Excavating

  • Eway Foundation

  • Freewheelin' Community Bikes

  • Felege Hiywot Center

"Project Indy serves as a critical first step in helping young people explore job opportunities and gain valuable experience and skills toward a future career," said Marie Mackintosh, President and CEO of EmployIndy. "Youth taking an interest in green skills and businesses investing in helping those young people connect to green jobs opportunities is crucial for the success of our workforce today and tomorrow."

According to a report from WorkingNation and Lightcast, as of 2021 there were 11,600 workers employed in green jobs in Indiana, with an average salary of $60K, and a nearly 30% five-year growth potential for the field, driven largely by wind turbine technicians.

EmployIndy has seen continued interest in green jobs from both job seekers and employers. Employer-led investments in green jobs require new skills and competencies that are scarce in the labor market. Job seekers understand the opportunity for economic security, sustainability, and growth potential. Individuals investing in green skills, employers focusing on reskilling their workers, educators assisting students in identifying and pursuing green jobs, and policymakers supporting training programs are all crucial for the longevity of the workforce.

Additional sustainability-related businesses and organizations in Marion County that hire young people and are interested in listing job opportunities on Project Indy's online portal, should visit projectindy.net/employers.

Indianapolis community members and organizations interested in collaborating or forming partnerships that will contribute to building resilience amidst the changing climate are invited to email sustainindy@indy.gov to discuss opportunities.

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Lindsay Trameri