Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§16411 Workforce Trends and Traineeship Grants

Title 42 › Chapter 149— NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY AND PROGRAMS › Subchapter XI— PERSONNEL AND TRAINING › § 16411

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the Secretary to watch and report on worker trends for skilled technical workers in energy fields and for electric power and transmission engineers. "Energy industries" here include things like renewable energy, companies that make energy-saving devices, oil and gas, nuclear power, coal, electric utilities, and any other sectors the Secretary picks. "Skilled technical personnel" means journey-level and apprentice workers in federal or state approved apprenticeship programs and other skilled workers the Secretary names. The Secretary must use data from the Secretary of Labor and send Congress a report within 1 year after August 8, 2005, with recommendations. If a big national shortage is found or predicted, the Secretary must report that to Congress quickly. The Secretary may create grant programs, with Labor’s input, to fund training (including distance learning) for worker groups with shortages. Up to $20,000,000 is authorized for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §16411

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section:

(1)The term “energy technology industry” includes—

(A)a renewable energy industry;

(B)a company that develops or commercializes a device to increase energy efficiency;

(C)the oil and gas industry;

(D)the nuclear power industry;

(E)the coal industry;

(F)the electric utility industry; and

(G)any other industrial sector, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(2)The term “skilled technical personnel” means—

(A)journey- and apprentice-level workers who are enrolled in, or have completed, a federally-recognized or State-recognized apprenticeship program; and

(B)other skilled workers in energy technology industries, as determined by the Secretary.

(b)(1)The Secretary, in consultation with, and using data collected by, the Secretary of Labor, shall monitor trends in the workforce of—

(A)skilled technical personnel that support energy technology industries; and

(B)electric power and transmission engineers.

(2)Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on current trends under paragraph (1), with recommendations (as appropriate) to meet the future labor requirements for the energy technology industries.

(3)As soon as practicable after the date on which the Secretary identifies or predicts a significant national shortage of skilled technical personnel in one or more energy technology industries, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the shortage.

(c)The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may establish programs in the appropriate offices of the Department under which the Secretary provides grants to enhance training (including distance learning) for any workforce category for which a shortage is identified or predicted under subsection (b)(2).

(d)There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 16411

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60