So you’ve been hearing Obama, McCain, and everybody else talk about "green jobs" (or "green collar jobs") and how these are America’s jobs of the future - but what does it all mean for you? In a nutshell, a green job is any job which focuses on conservation or renewable energy. Some prototypical green jobs include:
- Solar panel installer
- Home weatherizing specialist / consultant
- Working in a biofuel plant
- Working on a hybrid car assembly line
- Construction worker building wind turbines
But green jobs aren’t limited to those in green industries. Almost any job can become a "green job" if you’re taking your skillset and applying it to a green cause. Take some of these examples:
- Lawyer specializing in environmental regulation
- House painter using non-toxic paints
- Organic farmer
- Marketing specialist marketing green products
- Ecotourism guide
- City environmental planner
- Natural care physician
- IT professional for an environmental services company
Green jobs are getting so much buzz because they are viewed as America’s best solution to a faltering job economy and millions of jobs being shipped overseas. So why should you be considering a green job?
- Free education is available: The Green Jobs Act of 2007 will provide $125M per year to train workers for green jobs, so education is available at the Federal and State level
- Rapid growth in jobs: Many US states have passed regulations requiring vast increases in renewable energy, which will fuel growth in these industries, resulting in more jobs
- Many green jobs can’t be shipped overseas: Greening a building, for example, must happen here in the states. Green jobs have a secure home in this country for a long time to come.
- It will make you feel good about your job: We all need to do our part to help the environment, and what better way than to make it your career? Doing something that helps the world is the most rewarding career choice.
Additionally, green jobs can present great career paths, even if you start out in a entry-level position. The New York Times had a great example career path:
Some workers might start at $10 an hour inspecting homes for energy-efficient light bulbs. Then they might become $18-an-hour workers installing solar panels and eventually $25-an-hour solar-team managers. Eventually they might become $40-an-hour electricians or carpenters who do energy-minded renovations.
So what can you do to find your green job?
- First, decide whether you’re going to start in a new career path in a green job, or to try to adapt your current career in a green direction. It’s usually preferable to utilize your current skill sets and job network and try to take it in a green direction.
- If you decide to take on a new green career path, search for available job listings. Some great resources include greenjobs.com, job listings at TreeHugger, and the job boards over at GreenBiz.com.
In a future article, I’ll discuss tips for adapting your current job into a green job.
