From residential solar panel installation to industrial wind turbine sales, green jobs are not so much replacing blue-collar jobs as they are creating new opportunities for blue-collar workers in an evolving landscape. While the industrial revolution ushered in a shift away from a primarily agricultural economy and labor force in the last century, the coming green economy is more of an evolution.
What Is a Green-Collar Job?
Green collar is somewhat of an umbrella term that includes a range of jobs and industries, such as trade and managerial positions in everything from small local businesses to large corporations and international organizations. A broad example of just some of the sectors comprising green jobs include:
- Energy (residential and commercial retrofitting, efficiency, renewable electricity)
- Alternative fuels/biofuels
- Public transportation
- Recycling
- Engineering
- Consulting
- Solar and wind power
There are currently over 8 million green-collar jobs across sectors, and the numbers are expected to skyrocket to 40 million (approximately one out of every four workers) by 2030, according to current labor projections.
One of the many advantages of the green-collar economy is that, unlike that of traditional white- and blue-collar jobs, for which skills and job titles are more rigidly defined, the green-collar workforce requires men and women with a broad range of technical and “soft” skills. These skills are needed for management, consulting, engineering, design, metalwork, manufacturing and construction positions – just to name a few.
The green-collar workforce extends into real estate, too. Roger Voisinet, a Charlottesville, Virginia–based EcoBroker with a master’s degree in environmental science, transitioned from designing models for sustainable cities to marketing green properties. “In any green project, there are usually 10 to 20 features that set the homes apart from ordinary houses,” he says. His career path illustrates how environmental expertise can open doors across multiple green industries.
Even farming and agriculture have a place in the developing green economy, with growing interest in locally grown produce and the growing phenomenon of urban farming born in the last decade. According to National Geographic, some of the fastest-growing green-economy jobs include:
- Biofuels production
- Solar cell technicians
- Wind energy workers
- Green design
- Water quality technicians
- Clean/electric car engineers
- Energy efficient construction/building
- Natural sciences
- Recycling
- Urban growers/farmers
Pro Tip: Roger Cook, TOH landscape contractor, has long emphasized the green-economy potential in landscaping and horticulture: “If global warming continues, there’s going to be a complete change in what we can plant in certain areas.” He foresees smaller lawns, more drought-resistant plantings—called xeriscapes—and greater attention to preparing soil so roots can spread to find water, all of which require skilled workers trained in sustainable practices.
Salaries: Green-Collar Jobs by the Numbers
Whether you are looking to start your first green job or you’re switching careers to a green-collar job, the average yearly salary for many is in the $50,000/year range, and it rises significantly for more specialized, technical and supervisory positions.
Data compiled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average yearly earning potential for a number of key green positions across industries:
- Robotics technicians (equipment maintenance and installation) $50,000+
- Industrial engineering technologists (quality and inventory control, material flow) $54,000+
- Solar energy installation supervisors $55,000+
- Energy auditors $56,000+
- Solar sales reps $70,000+
- Energy engineers (HVAC, air quality, electrical systems, lighting) $78,000
- Gas collection system operators (operations and maintenance – landfill and industrial gas projects) $88,000
- Solar panel installation $25,000 to $50,000+
Many entry-level green-collar jobs do not require a four-year degree and offer a higher hourly rate than traditional manufacturing jobs ($12 to $22/hour as opposed to $8 to $9/hour).
Making the Switch: Where to Find Training and Support for a Transition Into the Green-Collar Marketplace
As with many areas of the blue-collar workforce, filling the skills gap in the green sector is both a private and public concern. In order to help job seekers from all walks of life train for and find well-paying jobs with growth potential, federal and local governments have pledged to invest over a billion dollars in the next few years to help train the green workforce.
Military veterans represent a particularly promising pipeline into green-collar trades. As part of its Generation NEXT initiative, This Old House highlighted the Soldier for Life program, which trains transitioning service members for careers in construction and building trades. Robert E., an instructor with the program, explained the approach: “Even for those that never had a background in construction, they come through this program, and they see what’s out there. We take them to different jobsites, let them see the commercial aspect, the residential aspect, take them to different unions, different employers come in and try to hire.” Shannon, a program graduate who served in the Army, credited the training with giving her confidence: “The Soldier for Life program definitely helped me with that transition. It gave me more confidence, and it helped me translate the skills that I had in the Army into civilian equivalents.”
Industry Perspective: Eric Thorkilsen, CEO of This Old House Ventures, has emphasized the urgency of addressing the trades workforce gap: “We are taking a leadership position in supporting the MRW Foundation’s scholarship program by reaching out to many companies and organizations and asking them to donate. It’s our way of helping to inspire as many young people as possible to go into the building trades.” This Old House has partnered with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s Work Ethic Scholarship Program, which supports students training for the trades — a model that demonstrates how media organizations and nonprofits can work together to close the skills gap.
Modern vocational schools like Diman Regional are part of a long tradition of hands-on education that continues to evolve. As This Old House host Kevin O’Connor noted during a visit to Essex Agricultural and Technical High School, “It was 100 years ago the federal government first started funding vocational education. But today’s vocational schools are nothing like they were when I grew up.” Today’s programs blend traditional academic coursework with cutting-edge technical training — preparing graduates not just for the jobs of today but for the emerging green-tech careers of tomorrow.
Vocational schools are also recognizing the importance of staying up-to-date with emerging technologies and by offering green-tech focused programs. Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River, Massachusetts has been in existence since the early 1900’s and has made it their mission to provide vocationally trained students with the skills they need to meet the demand of the industry.”We hold industry advisor meetings bi-annually in order for our school to be advised on what is the latest technology, training, and trends in the industry. We have over 300 members on that advisory board alone,” said Kevin Lazaro, Director of Cooperative Education. “In addition to the advisory board, we also have a strong connection with industry via the Cooperative Education program. The Cooperative Education Program is tied for the largest program in the New England region. We currently have over 90 organizations, 200 representatives, 320 students employed through this program.”
This article is syndicated with permission from Tradehounds.com
