Finding a Green Job

It's Workforce Development Week in Illinois. On Monday, Julie Rourke (director of workforce development at LLCC) and I spoke to a group of jobseekers about green job opportunities and training.

What exactly are green jobs? They certainly include work with renewable energies such as solar, wind, and geothermal, as well as green building. But that only scratches the surface of the possibilities.

According to Phil Angelides, in this Time article, a green job "has to pay decent wages and benefits that can support a family. It has to be part of a real career path, with upward mobility. And it needs to reduce waste and pollution and benefit the environment."

To Green For All, an national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty, "green-collar jobs are well-paid, career track jobs that contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental quality. If a job improves the environment, but doesn’t provide a family-supporting wage or a career ladder to move low-income workers into higher-skilled occupations, it is not a green-collar job." (You can learn more about green collar jobs on the Green For All website.)

In other words, green jobs include new and emerging fields such as renewable energies. But they also include existing occupations that now have more of a focus on environmental quality, as shown in the pyramid at left.

And the demand for these types of jobs, both existing and new, is only going to keep increasing.

If you're interesting in seeking employment in an area related to the green economy, there are a variety of resources available to you. Right here in Springfield, Illinois workNET offers information and assistance to people who are searching for employment.

Or head online. Illinois.greenjobs.net provides listings for jobs available in the state for LEED certified professionals as well as people hoping to work in wind, solar, and more. Yahoo! Hotjobs includes a Green Jobs section. Or you might find employment possibilies at Green Jobs Illinois. While you're at it, check out Clean Edge Jobs, greenjobs.com or the job listings at GreenBiz.com, SustainableBusiness.com, Sustain Lane, Green Environment News, and Green Jobs Ready.