Lessons from other energy sectors show that workforce constraints can slow deployment and delay commercialization, even when the technology is ready. Without a skilled workforce in place, progress stalls.

The marine energy sector is no different; its growth depends on a workforce prepared for both engineering and offshore operations. The question is: Are we preparing the marine energy workforce fast enough to meet projected industry demand? 
To better understand workforce readiness and identify critical gaps, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office (H2O), conducted a marine energy workforce assessment in 2024.

Building off a 2019 baseline assessment, this study integrates data from educational institutions and industry stakeholders to provide a comprehensive, system-level analysis. NLR applied a mixed-methods approach to characterize the availability of marine energy curricula, trainings, and field-based learning, and assess industry workforce preparedness. This included: 

• An educational survey and structured interviews with 18 U.S. institutions, including nine National Marine Energy Centers (NMECs), six universities not affiliated with NMECs, one maritime academy, and two community colleges 
• 33 semi-structured industry interviews with 29 U.S. marine energy companies and four national laboratories.  

Key findings from the education assessment

Findings show that dedicated marine energy programs remain limited. Among the surveyed institutions, only one reported an associate degree, three reported undergraduate degrees, and two reported graduate-level programs explicitly focused on marine energy. More commonly, marine energy content was embedded within mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, or environmental science curricula. 
While 56% of responding schools incorporated some coverage of marine energy topics, sustained programming was constrained by inconsistent funding streams, limited dedicated faculty, and low course enrollment. Institutions with access to field deployments, specialized facilities, or competitions (e.g., the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition) reported higher levels of student engagement and retention. 

Key findings from the industry assessment  

Industry perspectives reinforce the need for workers in the near future (58% of respondents plan to increase staff in the next 5-10 years) and interdisciplinary skillsets, combining core engineering competencies and maritime operational experience with commercialization and business acumen. Employers report persistent challenges in recruiting candidates who combine technical expertise with practical, field-based or offshore experience in safety-critical environments.

These workforce gaps mirror challenges seen in subsea operations, offshore construction, and marine robotics, where field experience and safety-critical skills are essential. 

In response, with H2O’s support, NLR is implementing workforce development strategies to strengthen the workforce pipeline, including experiential learning models (student competitions), career pathway tools (e.g. the Marine Energy Career Map), and pilot fellowship programs.

These findings highlight a need for training models that better integrate classroom learning with hands-on, field-based experience, as well as opportunities to transition skilled workers from adjacent maritime, offshore, and subsea industries into marine energy roles. 

What to expect

This presentation will:

• Summarize the assessment findings and methodology
• Highlight NLR’s workforce development resources
• Explore practical, industry-informed solutions to support workforce growth. Including programs that serve both new entrants and transitioning workers. 

In addition, NLR has conducted longitudinal student surveys since 2020 s to track how student perceptions of marine energy viability and careers have changed over time.   

This session will provide attendees with actionable insights into workforce gaps, training needs, and strategies that can support deployment and reduce workforce-related bottlenecks across marine and offshore industries. By sharing research findings with UI attendees, NLR aims to exchange best practices and bring together the stakeholders across the offshore community to discuss shared challenges and needs.