Brian Jenkins is an expert about a number of career fields, including those in electronics technology and construction management. He has been writing for BrainTrack.com since 2008.
What are green careers? Basically, any career that contributes to preserving or enhancing environmental quality falls into this category. What types of skills are in demand for these careers? A huge interest in the new energy economy has created a demand for people with skills in a variety of fields. Dion Lim, president and CEO of Simply Hired, said, “In many ways, green collar jobs will be about repurposing people with good skills onto projects that are green-oriented; for example, roof installers may become solar installers, electricians may become building retrofitters, etc.”
Many companies involved in wind power, solar power, energy efficiency, advanced energy storage, more energy efficient electric power, biofuels, and other sustainable efforts are hiring workers. A new report by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) found that the hottest green sectors, in terms of revenue growth, are solar photovoltaics, fuel cells, solar thermal, and biofuels. Based on evaluations by green industry experts, here are some of the green jobs in demand (several green job boards are found below as well):
Scientific Researchers
Scientific researchers work at companies and universities to develop new sources and applications of biofuels and other green-related subjects.
Construction Managers
Those with green credentials oversee workers constructing green buildings and adding solar panels and other green technologies to existing buildings. Some construction managers participate in training programs to enhance their green credentials.
Engineers
Civil, electrical, computer software, mechanical, chemical, and environmental engineers are needed to design and build wind turbines and solar technologies and expand mass transit systems. They’re also needed to develop alternative fuels and the infrastructure required to employ them.
Solar Installation Technicians
Business owners and homeowners throughout the nation are installing solar panels, and this trend is expected to grow. The price of solar panels is forecasted to continue to drop which leads to more sales and a higher demand for solar installation technicians.
Electricians
Electricians help expand transportation systems, install solar panels, and make existing buildings more environmentally friendly.
Wind Turbine Installation Technicians
Wind turbines are increasingly popular as an effective and inexpensive way to power buildings. The demand for wind power is expected to grow.
Agriculture and Forestry Supervisors
These folks work with people involved in collecting switch grass, wood chips, and other types of organic matter to make cellulosic biofuels.
Environmental Retrofitters
The federal government and homeowners across the nation are seeking to retrofit homes with the newest environmental technologies. There’s a need for green plumbers, roof installers, electricians, and others.
Architects
Those with green credentials are needed to integrate energy-efficient technologies into new homes, corporate buildings, and existing factories and offices.
Database Specialists
Individuals with technical expertise in databases and environmental knowledge set up and manage systems utilized to track, evaluate, and report information such as energy use.
Green Job Boards
Browsing green collar job boards provides an indication of what types of jobs are in demand.
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) provides a list of websites with renewable energy job boards.
Greenjobsearch.org is provided by the Green Jobs Network. The website includes a large collection of green job categories. You can also look at job listings by city or state.
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) GreenStart Job Board is a top source for green jobs. The website lists jobs available throughout the country.
International Market for Green Jobs
The United Nations projects a boom in green collar jobs. According to its report, Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a sustainable Low-Carbon World, installation and maintenance of solar PV (photovoltaic) and solar thermal systems offer tremendous job growth. Green jobs are being created in wealthy countries and in some of the major developing economies as well.
Many of these jobs can be found in cities all over the United States and the world. if you’re interested in a green collar career, there are plenty of opportunities out there.
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