Green Jobs are on the Rise

Without a doubt, everyone seems to be interested in the environment in ever increasing numbers. In fact, a study called The Future of Green Business Strategy and conducted by futurethink stated that:

• Celebrities are becoming eco-evangelists in increasing numbers
• The 2008 Olympics set the “gold standard” for sustainable events
• The giant retailer Walmart is going green
• Religious leaders now make environment preservation a moral issue

In fact, due to this interest, there is also an increased demand in “green” careers as new jobs in this field are created. At present, according to the American Solar Energy Society http://www.ases.org/ recently stated that there are currently approximately over 8 million green jobs. The same organization predicts that this number will increase to 40 million jobs or approximately twenty-five percent of the United State's workforce in 2030.

Green Jobs and Government

Government is additionally recognizing the importance of the green economy. As an example, the state of Maryland http://www.green.maryland.gov has developed a strategy to promote green careers to better position the state for long-term sustainability. As such, the state is working at promoting environmentally-friendly practices, encouraging and attracting green business, and growing the number of green jobs in general.

What Type of Green Jobs Will Be Created?

While the majority of the jobs that will be created will be in the more traditional alternative energy sectors such as solar and wind power generation, all types of careers will be positively affected by society’s increased interest in green goods and services. For example, as the number of green businesses increase, there will also be a proportional need for people to fill various business related roles within these green organizations. Some of the green business jobs that are available within the eco industries include sales, accounting, management, operations, finance, marketing and administrative positions.

Overall then, the number of green jobs will definitely be increasing in the near future – and these positions are perfect for people who want to make a difference in the world.

Written by: Larisa Redins - Contributing Writer