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U.S. Labor Dept: green jobs hit 2.4 percent of total employment

By David Worthington | March 22, 2012, 8:43 PM PDT

(Image credit: Wikipedia commons)

Skeptical politicians and pundits may deride green jobs as a patronage or call environmentalists ”green, green lima beans,” but the sector is producing considerable employment in the United States.

Today, the U.S. Labor Department announced the results of its first ever survey on green jobs in the United States. Green jobs accounted for 2.4 percent of total employment in 2010, or approximately 2.3 million jobs. The vast majority of those jobs were in the private sector.

The Labor Department categorizes green jobs as Green Goods and Services (GGS). “GGS jobs are found in businesses that produce goods and provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources,” it stated in a press release. It is a broad categorization that includes everything from nuclear power generation to hog and pig farming.

California led in volume of GGS jobs, and Vermont had the highest proportion among the states, followed by Washington DC. New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio were the runners up in total employment.

It is very serendipitous that these numbers were released while President Obama has been out pitching green energy amid attacks by GOP presidential hopefuls who are collectively rejecting renewables. Obama includes renewables in his “all of the above” energy policy that calls for expanded oil and gas drilling, and has been getting tougher on China for subsidizing its solar power industry.

(Image source: U.S. Dept. of Labor)

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About David Worthington

David Worthington is a contributing editor for SmartPlanet.

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Green Jobs Market

Green and Environment Jobs were heralded as the way forward to help save the earth and to combat climate change, enhance conservation efforts and halt species decline. But just how far have we come in the past 10 years writes Andrew Coleman for ADC Environment Limited. "There are several studies of the jobs market and the scope for creating a successful career in this field, but is environmental protection a vocation that I would encourage any undergraduate to follow?" (writes Andrew) "Until 2008 there was a tremendous growth pretty much all niches of environmentalism. The trend followed a similar pattern to the tech boom, and the current situation is also the same...the 'bubble burst." "Although there has seen a marginal growth in the years post 2008, growth remains subdued. Previously bouyant areas such as 'organics' 'ecology' and 'climate change' have continued to tread water." The full report can be seen here http://www.environmentjobs.com/news-article.asp?n=134&news=The%20Future%20of%20Green%20and%20Environment%20Jobs "The organic market is predominantly a consumer driven market, and affected by price, customer spend, inflation and employment. In the minority are the organic diehards that will continue to by organic produce irrespective of price and quantity - in favour of a 'lifestyle decision'. The organic market has nose dived since 2008, but it is my opinion that this will become 'part and parcel' of the Fairtrade consumerism and will once again grow. (Fairtrade has not been affected by the global recession but has in fact grown)." "Ecology is affected by private sector business and to a lesser extent by public sector pay. Without developments there is little demand for the services of ecology consultancy services. Less demand creates a stagnant job market. There will however, always be a seasonal demand for ecologists." "Climate Change (CC) is affected by both public and private sector spend. But unlike other specialisms, it has been seen to be at the mercy of climate sceptics and conflicting reports about the integrity of climate data. CC is undoubtedly affecting the globe and is integral to many jobs. However, private sector developments, R&D and the resulting increase in the jobs market has not materialised as would have been expected." "...Onto renewables. Renewables are the holy grail. However, it is my opnion that the future for renewables is fusion energy. Fusion energy requires little physical space and creates energy thousands of times higher (per input) than any other form of energy creation (nuclear aside). However, there is little R&D into this potentially planet saving energy resource. It is my belief that solar, wind and wave technology are too unreliable, labour intensive, invasive, costly and ineffective." We are currently collating market data and hope to publish some statistics and trends later in 2013.

Posted by adcenv

19th Mar

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Green Jobs

Covers A lot of aria.
Think of this . If You get a product made in this country the money stays in this country. Even if it cost more. You by a prodect frome anuther country most of the money goes thair Our states are buying steel from China to repair our bridges. You may save money by doing this but whair dose the money go. Buy home product it will help put people to work. Some of money will be picked up in taxes and the rest will help the Econimey.

Posted by davewsr2

23rd Mar 2012

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Did they ever get around to defining what a "green job" actually was?

A few years ago, the term was a bit dubious. There was little doubt that it was a political patronage term that was meaningless beyond the use for a soundbite. Sure, a guy who builds or installs solar panels clearly would be, but how about the truck driver who delivers them? The lunchlady in the cafeteria? Or the K-street lobbyist who works over congresspeople for more tax breaks?

Posted by JohnMcGrew@...

24th Mar 2012

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Green Jobs Market

Posted by adcenv

19th Mar

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