Where Are the Green Jobs?

If, like me and millions of other Americans, you've recently lost your job due to Economageddon, you may be wondering where these Green Jobs are that everyone keeps talking about. News reports say green is the fastest sector of the jobs market; the White House says it's creating more and more green jobs. Well, where are these jobs, and how do you get one?

I could give a quick, snide answer and tell you to use something called a search engine. Or I could be a little more helpful and point you in the direction of a couple of good job boards, like Greenjobs, or the Green Jobs board at TreeHugger.com.

But what if you're not a scientist, architect, or engineer?

What if you don't have the skill set to start developing biofuels or teaching environmental science? As a recently laid-off print editor, for example, I'd love to jump into a growing (as opposed to a terminally ill) job sector, but how do I leverage the skills and experiences I already have and get a green job?

The good news is that most green companies—solar, wind, and biofuel outfits, for example—have plenty of non-technical positions that need to be filled, just like any other company. A green collar economy calls for an army of green accountants, green marketers, green PR flaks, green human resources reps, and so forth.

The even better news is that, just like your high school basketball coach told you, it's the fundamentals that count. Networking (including meeting, greeting, and going to conferences on green subjects that matter to you) is much more likely to get you your next green job than sending out blind emails. Research and creative thinking won't hurt either.

And of course there's always that possibility of going back to school to get more green schools, although some would argue that you don't necessarily need it.

Here's my last piece of advice (and take it with a big, fat grain of salt, since I'm still looking for my next full-time gig myself): If none of these answers satisfies you, be an entrepreneur. Start your own green business, based on your own skills or inclinations. After all, as Gandhi said, if you want change in the world, you've got to be that change.

Photo Credit: Hillary Birch Vanaria