Creating Green Jobs for Displaced Workers

Status: Concept Development

Green collar workers are employed in the environmental or agricultural sectors of the economy. They satisfy the demand for green development and generally implement environmentally conscious design, policy and technology to improve conservation and sustainability. Some are professionals such as conservation workers, environmental consultants, environmental or biological system engineers, green vehicle engineers, organic farmers, environmental lawyers, cology educators, or eco-technology workers. Others are trade or vocational workers such as electricians who install solar panels, plumbers who instal solar water heaters, and construction workers who build green buildings, wind power farms, and other clean, sustainable energy sources.

Green jobs are high quality jobs with low barriers to entry. This makes them ideal for low income families with barriers to employment, workers that have been displaced from jobs in the last ten years due to outsourcing or loss of industry and youth who wish to gain quality employment without receiving a four year college education. This sector is growing rapidly and requires more workers in the next few years.

There will be a need for many more training programs to fill the expected need for green collar energy efficiency workers in the coming years. Programs such as the Green Collar Careers Training program can provide examples of success for future educational programs.

Twelve Recommendations

• Define and target specific green jobs in any green collar job initiative.
• Use good data to drive green jobs initiatives
• Develop meaningful performance measures for green job skils; Measure green jobs programs and make them better.
• Employ energy standards as green jo creation tools.
• Maximize green and community benefits by requiring them.
• Promote green industry clusters.
• Save existing jobs and create new ones through green innovation.
• Link green economic and workforce development.
• Construct green industry partnerships.
• Integrate green jobs initiaties into existing workforce systems.
• Build greener career pathways.
• Extend green ladders to build real pathways out of poverty.

To become involved in any of these groups, contact our Network Manager, John Heiss