A Hydrogen Hub Blueprint for the California Supply Chain

As global climate targets tighten and state regulations accelerate, hydrogen technology presents a significant opportunity to help California supply chain and transportation stakeholders comply with state emissions mandates and global goals aimed to reduce the impacts of climate change. However, while fuel cell costs and infrastructure have received attention, workforce development remains overlooked. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are especially promising for diesel-reliant sectors that are hard to decarbonize without negatively impacting operational efficiency. But scaling hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure in tandem with emerging consumer and industrial markets will not be easy. State and federal policies, often conflicting, further complicate the hydrogen rollout, which will require a workforce with the collective knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to design, develop, operate, and maintain this new system. Who will prepare that workforce? To address that question, the PIs for this report partnered with five California State University campuses (the CSU5+) to conduct the Hydrogen Workforce Peer Exchange. The research team then conducted a literature review with a focus on both U.S. federally funded workforce programs and international efforts. After conducting a comparative labor market analysis of domestic and international hydrogen production, transport, storage, and fueling systems development, researchers identified 21 key occupations active in the hydrogen supply chain today and identified Australia and Canada as leading nations in the development of the hydrogen industry. Within this broader context, the “Hydrogen Workforce Blueprint for the Southern California Supply Chain” assesses opportunities and challenges related to the hydrogen rollout in Southern California, home of the largest supply chain gateway in the nation. Preparing a skilled hydrogen workforce now means Southern California can lead the nation in building a cleaner, more resilient supply chain—one that advances climate goals and keeps goods and people moving efficiently.