How to find a green job

We've all been hearing about the benefits of green jobs lately. A new Reuters survey found that green workers like the work they do, feel secure in their jobs, and are paid well, earning an average salary of $76,000. 

There's no doubt that creating a substantial number of new green jobs has the potential to help revive the economy and solve environmental problems. The government stimulus package alone is expected to create millions of green jobs. Climate change legislation, if passed, will likely add even more.

The jury is still out on whether the reality of green jobs will live up to all the hype. But for now, here are answers to some very basic questions about what kinds of green jobs are being created and how to land one.

What exactly is a green job?

There's no official definition, but the Middle Class Task Force, which recently announced more funding for training and the creation of green jobs, loosely defines it as "jobs that help to improve the environment in some way."

The task force says the term includes:

• "Blue-collar workers building out the smart grid to efficiently move the wind power (green, renewable energy) across the land.


• 'Weatherizers' who can diagnose and repair the energy inefficiencies in your house or business.


• The green manufacturers who made those wind turbines or the scientists and lab technicians who developed those renewable energy sources and weatherization materials."

You've also probably heard the term "green-collar jobs."The clean energy jobs organization Green for All describes this work as blue-collar jobs that contribute to preserving or enhancing environmental quality.

What kinds of jobs are being created?

Here is Green for All's short list:

• Energy auditors
• Green carpenters
• Insulation installers
• Civil engineers
• Rail-track layers
• Bus and train systems operators
• Wind turbine machinists
• Solar panel installers
• Iron and steel workers
• Recycling center operators
• Water quality consultants

It's not all about the face of the green economy, says Timothy O'Connor, at the Environmental Defense Fund. New companies are starting up because of the stimulus package, and those companies are going to need accountants, managers, human resources folks, and other professionals. As a result, high-end salaries are increasing. "We now see more jobs paying six figure salaries, particularly as climate change has started to pull in senior managers from other areas of business," says Andy Cartland, managing director at Acre Resources.

How do you go about finding green training opportunities and jobs?

It depends on where you live. Where to get green job training and which economic sectors are growing will vary from community to community. Here are some general tips to get you get started, but keep in mind that there are sure to be more resources as the government money trickles down.

• The Department of Labor recently committed $500 million to train green workers. Check with your local One-Stop Career Center to see if they have any green training programs. American Green Jobs, supported by the EPA and the DOL, has extensive information on training, education, and other aspects of green employment. Or look for service-learning opportunities through the Corps Network, which can put you on the path to a green career, says Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins at Green for All.


• Your local community college can be a great resource. Community colleges often have links to green vocational agencies, according to Ellis-Lamkins. It's also a good way to find local union apprenticeship programs. It's competitive to land a place in one of these programs, says O'Connor, but once you're in, you have access to well-developed support and job placement networks.


• Check for green career opportunities at Yahoo! Hot Jobs. Here's a list of some good websites for green job listings. Additional job boards include: Green Jobs Network, Greenjobs, and Environmental Career Opportunities.


• Keeping track of where stimulus money is going is a great way to help find opportunities in your city or town.


• Environmental Defense Fund mapped out potential job opportunities in 14 states (if Congress passes a cap on carbon). See if your state is listed and, if so, which companies in your area are in the best position to start hiring.  


• The Natural Resources Defense council has fact sheets outlining green job opportunities in about a dozen states.


• The Green Jobs Guidebook focuses on where to get training and find good-paying green jobs in California, but O'Connor, a co-author, says the info is applicable anywhere in the country. 

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.