Want a Job? Think Green!

Want a job? Think green! According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, jobs in clean energy are growing faster than any other part of the economy: 9.1 percent between 1998 and 2007, versus 3.7 percent for the overall job market.  This means there now are about 770,000 green jobs in the US -- and that number is growing fast.

Even more impressive: the numbers cited by Pew are conservative estimates.  That's because, according to Wired Magazine:

The report differs from government projections or most industry association estimates in that it counts individual jobs, not entire industries. In other words, only the electricians who actually install solar panels were counted as green electricians.

Of course, one reason for the quick pace of green growth is the Obama administration's financial focus on environmentally friendly jobs.  Another reason, though, is less obvious.  It seems that green energy projects are actually more labor-intensive than traditional energy projects.

According to a University of California study,  for example, a gas-intensive energy portfolio in 2020 would generate only 83,987 jobs, compared to a 20% renewable energy portfolio, which could generate up to 240,850 jobs. The study also finds that jobs in traditional fuel production have been declining over time for "reasons that have little to do with environmental regulation."

Apparently, your chances of getting a job in a green field are higher than ever - and growing. Meanwhile, if you were hoping for a job pumping oil from pristine National Parkland, you may be out of luck!