LEED Credentials in High Demand

WASHINGTON — More employers in the construction and engineering industries consider LEED credentials an essential part of hiring criteria, according to a study of job postings from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Over a 12-month period — March 2013 to February 2014 — the demand for the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and LEED Green Associate credentials jumped 46 percent. The study, conducted by USGBC education partner Pearson, using data provided by Boston-based Burning Glass, found a total of 9,033 U.S. job postings that required a LEED credential. The study showed LEED credentials are in demand throughout building industry-related fields as the top industries being advertised included positions in mechanical, electrical and civil engineering; construction management; architecture; software development; sales management; property management; and interior design, among others.
“This figure tells a powerful story about the value that building-industry employers assign to knowledgeable, LEED-credentialed professionals,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC, in a statement. “LEED is a transformative force within the building sector, and every day, our network of more than 197,000 LEED APs and Green Associates are helping to advance the industry and push building projects to new heights of performance and resource efficiency.”
A secondary, 90-day study conducted by Pearson, using data provided by Burning Glass of 2,354 U.S. green-building related positions, also found LEED as the skill in highest demand by a wide margin. The data from this study spanned from January 2014 to March 2014. LEED appeared in 59 percent of all postings.
What is LEED AP? A professional with this credential has knowledge in specialized areas of green building, expertise in a particular LEED rating system and competency in the certification process. The USGBC says it is suited for practitioners actively working on LEED projects to showcase their deep technical knowledge of LEED in both principle and practice.
Who is a LEED Green Associate? This professional distinction demonstrates a solid, current understanding of green building principles and practices. It is ideal for both professionals newer to the sustainability field or looking to gain experience and exposure to LEED, as well as those working in diverse roles such as product manufacturers, students, real estate professionals and contractors, according to USGBC.
In 2012, the USGBC partnered with Pearson, a learning organization based in New York, to launch an online workforce education program for the LEED Green Associate credential. Then in January 2014, the USGBC launched Education @USGBC, an online platform that offers courses for LEED professionals to maintain their credentials through continuing education.