The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new initiative to enhance the American manufacturing sector’s workforce and sustainability efforts. The initiative, dubbed the Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Decarbonization (ISEED) Collaborative, will receive $3.6 million in funding to develop programs aimed at improving energy efficiency, workforce training, and supporting industrial decarbonization efforts.

Workforce Development and Energy Efficiency

Six organizations, including the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and the Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST), will play a key role in this joint effort. The goal is to provide more pathways into the industrial sector, upskill the existing workforce, and expand energy-efficient practices. The industrial sector currently supports more than 21 million jobs and contributes $4.8 trillion to the U.S. economy. However, as the industry evolves, the demand for specialized workers continues to rise.

The DOE’s initiative will help address the critical skills gap, particularly as 4 million new manufacturing jobs are projected by 2030. Half of these positions risk remaining unfilled due to the increasing expertise required. Dr. Avi Shultz, Director of DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, emphasized that the collaborative seeks to provide the necessary workforce training and upskilling to prepare both current and future workers for the industrial jobs of tomorrow.

The six selected organizations will receive DOE funding, technical support, and guidance to pilot programs aimed at scaling regional and national solutions. Other collaborators in the effort include Catalyst Connection, MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium, Cascade Energy LLC, and CelSian Glass USA.