Researching a New Career: Green Jobs
With so many Americans out of work, searching for a job can be a challenge. Perhaps it is time to make a career change. A career change may require additional education or certifications. Before you commit, it is wise to research your new occupation or industry. While reviewing some statistics for growth industries, I uncovered data on how rapidly the green goods and services industry is growing. The Department of Labor has extensive resources free to you. This is an excellent place to start your research on a green career.
According to the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, the United States had 3.1 million Green Goods and Services (GGS) jobs. GGS jobs accounted for 2.4% of total U.S. covered employment. The private sector had 2.3 million GGS jobs and the public sector had 860,000 GGS jobs. If you are researching a new career, this is a growth area is one for consideration.
The government has the Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide detailed reporting and analysis of green jobs in the United States. You can tap into this valuable resource to determine opportunities for which you are suited and the skills you need to succeed in a green career. Green jobs may be within one of these fields: renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution reduction and recycling, natural resource conservation, and environmental compliance.
A great place to start is the Green Careers page. On this page you will find detailed articles featuring
various green careers. This resource is quite comprehensive. However, if you do not find an answer to your question, you may call an agent at the Department of Labor’s Green Careers support telephone number at 202-691-5700.
For more information on how to investigate new careers or conduct company research, try these blogs: