Green jobs are still growing

Courtesy of greenforall.org (via Flickr)

Did you know that the “green” or “clean” economy employs 2.7 million workers?

Well, the Brookings Institution just released a report which shows that solar, wind and other renewable energy projects are creating more jobs, more quickly than any other. And half of them don’t require a college degree!

So, what all is in the report? And where are these jobs and which one might be right for you?

A few facts from the report:

• The clean economy offers more opportunities and better pay for low- and middle-skilled workers than the national economy as a whole.
• Seven of the 21 states with at least 50,000 clean economy jobs are in the South. Among states, California has the highest number of clean jobs but Alaska and Oregon have the most per worker.
• The clean economy employs more workers than the fossil fuel industry

Cities with the most green jobs: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, San Francisco and Milwaukee.

Types of green jobs that are highest in demand:

• Manufacturing is a big one
• Public transit
• Waste water management
• Conservation projects
• Recycling plants
• Growing organic vegetables
• Marketing green consumer products
• Wind, fuel cell, smart grid, biofuel, and battery industries

Want to know more about the report? Check out Brooking’s interactive map.

You can learn more about the above positions, the education/skill requirements and more, here. Also, check out this great list of green jobs available around the U.S.