A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities of Tomorrow

2008 was a particularly challenging year for the national economy and labor market. The combined impacts of rising energy prices, a housing market downturn, and the continuing credit crisis have created an economic environment characterized by decreased job growth and increased unemployment, the key indicators of a recession. At the same time, today’s economy is in a state of transition that is driven in part by recognition that the need to be globally competitive and the need for practices and products that do not contribute to or stem the tide of global warming and environmental degradation are not at odds and can, in fact, be complementary. Interest in more efficient and sustainable practices and products continues to provide an opportunity for economic growth in these tough times. Evidence of this shift exists in a variety of forms—from green legislation and policy campaigns at all levels of government to programs preparing a workforce for the new ‘green’ economy.

The growing green economy is diverse, defined not only by jobs and products, but also by major public and private investments and government policies effecting change in the market. Many current and emergent sectors will be touched by new green innovations and policies, ranging from sustainable agriculture to energy efficiency and from green building to new and renewable energy resources.

The shift to a green economy necessitates understanding the potential labor market demand for jobs in the various industry sectors impacted by these changes—what are being defined as green and green collar jobs. This shift is taking place across a variety of areas—in policy and legislation, workforce and training initiatives, grassroots campaigns, and within traditional industries—at national, state, and regional levels.

This report:

• Provides an overview of the current research on the green economy, including jobs, industries, and market outlook, with a particular focus on opportunities and obstacles in the Puget Sound Region.
• Identifies some of the green collar jobs associated with the Energy Efficiency sector, as well as the demand for these jobs in the Puget Sound region.
• Outlines current and prospective opportunities for green job training programs, with attention paid to those programs aimed at helping low-income and low-skill populations onto career pathways in green sectors.
• Continues work initiated by interest from the City of Seattle that examines local industries that are turning green and what this change means for local employers, workers, and available skills training.
• Contributes information to aid the development of other local and regional sector strategies in emerging green industries.