Abundant Talent

abundant talent circle graph

Rhode Island is teeming with talent and we are stocking our workforce pipeline with well-trained workers. With a vibrant higher education ecosystem, and collaborative workforce development training programs – including our Global Wind Organization (GWO) Training program as well as our Wind Win RI program –  the state has and will continue to train tomorrow’s workers today.

Institutions across the state are realizing the benefit of introducing wind and renewable energy programs into their curriculum, and wind-specific pilot programs have been introduced at both the middle and high school levels. Additionally, the Real Jobs RI program (opens a PDF in a new tab), housed within the Department of Labor and Training, boasts a flexible, industry-driven job training program that proactively meets the needs of employers.

Workforce Availability

  • 11 universities graduate more than 19,000 students annually
  • 126,000 people in tech and related fields live within a 60-minute commute of Providence
  • 130,000 business and operations professionals live within a 60-minute commute of Providence

Learn more about Rhode Island's talent advantage and offshore wind opportunities.

Sample Workforce Data - 60 Minute Commute from Providence

Occupation Number of Employees LQ*
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors 460 1.11
Industrial Engineers 6,279 1.32
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects 713 3.72
Materials Engineers 432 0.98
Mechanical Engineers 5,820 1.14
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians 2,423 1.16
Environmental Engineering Technicians 424 1.34
Materials Scientists 253 2.23
Structural Iron and Steel Workers 1,436 1.12

Source: JobsEQ®
Data as of 08/17/20
*Location Quotient (LQ) is a ratio of the concentration in talent in a given industry in Rhode Island to that of the national average (LQ = Rhode Island Industry Concentration / National Average). US average = 1.

Photo credit:  Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind