I read a lot about the virtues of the so-called green economy. Frankly, I want to believe most of it because I honestly do want to enjoy a future with less pollution and improved prosperity.
Granted, I will be the first to admit that I’m an idealist, and can proceed naively at times; nodding as the politicians tout the benefits of green investment in their campaign promises. Who wouldn’t want to see a future where we create real manufacturing jobs domestically, become more energy independent, and return the economy to steady growth, all at the same time?
For those planning their careers or pondering a mid-career switch, there is a lot of upside to going green. Green collar jobs are proving to be a smart choice for many individuals that want their work to have a positive environmental impact, and giving a much-needed boost to the overall economy.
So, how do you define a green job, and will I be able to pay my mortgage if I have a green career? The Brookings Institution has just released a comprehensive study on how jobs in this diverse group fit into the big picture. The summary of the study can be found here, Sizing The Green Economy.
They broadly define “green collar” jobs as those that produce goods or services with an environmental benefit. This encompasses virtually all sectors of the economy. The study concluded with these major findings:
There is currently 2.7 million green collar jobs
These jobs are mainly in mature sectors like waste management, and transportation. A smaller proportion are in alternative energy occupations. It is interesting to note that the green sector now employs more workers than the fossil fuel industry.
Green Job-Growth was slower than the overall economy from 2003 to 2010
Green job growth was 3.4% compared to overall job growth of 4.2% for the period. However, job growth in alternative energy far exceeded the overall average, albeit with lower volume.
26% of green jobs are in manufacturing compared to 9% for the overall economy
This is a positive factor in bringing manufacturing jobs back into the domestic economy.
Green energy exports per employee are double that of other workers
Green jobs account for roughly $20,000 in exports each, compared to $10,000 for other jobs.
Green collar median wages are 13% higher than other jobs
Green jobs are also predominantly filled by people with little formal education. This means that workers can enjoy higher incomes without the expense of higher education.
There are some positive indicators here. I particularly like the finding that wages in green collar occupations are higher than average, without the need for expensive educational qualifications.
This significantly reduces the financial risk for prospective employees, and I think makes this a very attractive proposition. Once established in a green collar career, employees can then better judge if additional education is going to be justified, rather than getting the degree(s) first, and hoping for a high paying job after graduating. This may be a simplistic approach, but that’s the way I see it.
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I would love to get into the Green Collar field. It’s an expanding field which align with my priorities. I’ll need to research more and see if I can change career.
Thanks Joe, I would like to do the same thing. I’m not sure what your background is but I think it would be easy to put a very positive spin on your financial blogging experience. All companies are screaming out for experienced people in social media too. Over the next 30 years I agree, there is going to be solid expansion in green collar jobs. Great time to jump in!
Very interesting…I bet a lot of the higher wages for “green collar” jobs is region specific. I know out there, we have a major solar panel company in the area, they were making leaps and bounds a couple years ago, but after the immediate threat of financial and global meltdown left us, they have been on a downward spiral ever since…which is a shame.
Apparently one of the big reasons why green job growth lagged the entire economy is due to housing sector lay-offs from 2007-2009. You can imagine that this killed all the green low-impact housing too. I wonder if your solar plant produced panels for the retail market?
I have a friend who is an environmental engineer who has a lot of choices in terms of jobs in this crummy market. Nice position to be in considering this market.
It would be nice to have skills that are in demand like that. I think that is what good career planning is all about.
Interesting link. I need to go and read that study before leaving more meaningful feedback. Right now, I’m a little pressed for time
Here’s a idle question though: Given that Brookings is somewhat tilted to the left end of the political spectrum, is there a possibility that the study has been a little “green-washed?”
And I say that even being a big fan of alternative energy like wind and solar.
Yes, absolutely. They are well known for their green slant. I’m sure this study, produced by them, highlights several points that help to promote their agenda. I tried to present the article as a study produced by THEM, and here is what THEY found. I don’t endorse what they found, but I do think it is interesting.
Nice article. Who would have thought there would be green collar jobs next to blue and white. Are you considering a career change? If so, good luck to you. I’m sure the green sector would be lucky to have you. Thanks for including me!
Right now my career is that of a full-time Dad, and I suppose I can add blogger to that now. Circumstances are keeping me from the 9-5 army, and I’m ok with that. Whatever I do I would prefer it to help and not hurt the environment.
This is encouraging, although it would be nice to see much faster green jobs growth than there has been so far. It’s kinda a shame that Obama’s plan didn’t really work out like everyone hoped.
I’ve been meaning to read the Green Collar Economy by Van Jones for a while now. Have you checked that one out?
I have not read that Jeff, but I will look for it, thanks. I really think there needs to be prosperity before people become good environmental stewards. It’s a difficult game for everyone to win.
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