Workforce Development and Offshore Wind Careers

Our ambitions

Setting industry standards and training workers to meet them

Partnering with unions to build a new American industry

Offering scholarships and training that lead to careers

Creating pathways to high-quality careers in offshore wind

With offshore wind, we have the power to build a new American workforce – one that is well-trained, well-paid, and open to all. We’re providing job training, student scholarships, and supportive services that lead workers directly to high-quality careers. Through our union commitments and workforce development programs, Ørsted is setting high standards for clean energy jobs and bringing opportunities to communities across the U.S.

Building a new American workforce

Setting industry standards and training workers to meet them

The offshore wind industry is hitting its stride in the U.S., giving us a chance to shape it. As a market leader, Ørsted is working with industry partners to define quality standards for offshore wind jobs, creating opportunities for skilled workers and building an open, accessible sector. This means doing our part to prepare workers, training both young and seasoned professionals to meet the highest standards for clean energy development.

Ørsted workers wearing safety gear undergo safety training to prepare for offshore wind jobs

A blue pictogram of an offshore wind turbine, representing a new training opportunity for wind technicians New Jersey.

Training New Yorkers to work safely

In partnership with the Long Island organizations Ørsted helped launch the National Offshore Wind Training Center with a $10MM investment. NOWTC offers important safety trainings, so that local workers can smoothly transition into the growing offshore wind industry.

A blue pictogram of a hard hat, representing pre-apprenticeship programs sponsored for trades by Ørsted in Rhode Island.

Accessible pre-apprenticeships in RI

We’re partnering with Building Futures Rhode Island to train a new generation of carpenters, ironworkers, painters, electricians, and more. This registered pre-apprenticeship program offers hands-on learning and classroom instruction to Rhode Island workers.

A blue pictogram of one teacher and two children, representing Ørsted's funding of KidWind's REcharge Academy.

Teacher training in offshore wind

It’s never too early for the next generation of engineers, technicians, and environmentalists to engage with renewables.That’s why Ørsted funds programs like KidWind’s REcharge Academy, which train educators to teach students grades K-12 about offshore wind.

Partnering with unions to build a new American industry

Union workers were early supporters of the offshore wind industry, quickly recognizing the benefits of an influx of construction, manufacturing, and transportation jobs to America.

That’s why Ørsted has committed to building all our offshore wind farms with union labor. We’re investing in a fair, inclusive union workforce, working closely with state officials, labor leaders, and local institutions to support pre-apprenticeship and safety credentialing programs. This is key to increasing the skills of American workers and maximizing their career opportunities.

A young union worker reaches for building materials on an American offshore wind construction site

A blue pictogram showing the number 1, representing America's first offshore labor agreement, signed by Ørsted.

1^stAmerican offshore labor agreement

In 2022, Ørsted signed a landmark project labor agreement with North America’s Building Trades Unions – the National Offshore Wind Agreement. This makes us the first developer committed to constructing all our offshore wind farms under collectively bargained, pre-hire labor agreements.

A blue pictogram of two workers, representing the 58,000 jobs created by the offshore wind industry in America.

58,000 offshore wind jobs

It’s estimated that the offshore wind industry will create ~58,000 American jobs. Ørsted’s National Offshore Wind Agreement is bringing many of those jobs to union workers, who will earn family-sustaining wages in construction, manufacturing, and maritime work.

A blue pictogram of a dollar, representing the $23 million invested in offshore wind job training around the East Coast.

$23 million for job development

We’re investing millions in the training and development of America’s offshore wind workforce. We’ve already launched major initiatives in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island – and we’re just getting started.

Want to learn how the National Offshore Wind Agreement came to be?

Hear from our partners at NABTU, the AFL-CIO, and Ørsted’s Head of Labor Relations.

Offering scholarships and training that lead to careers

A new generation of students is looking to solve today’s energy and environmental challenges – and we’re here to support them. From Rutgers University, to SUNY Maritime, to the Community College of Rhode Island, Ørsted is funding offshore wind scholarships, research, and more. With local programs that extend beyond the classroom, we help students get hands-on experience, make connections, and launch careers in clean energy.