The new buzzword in the economy is green jobs.The Obamaadministration envisions green collar jobs to boost the laggingeconomy.The industrial leaders of the renewable energy sectorpromote green collar jobs as the way towards increasing publicawareness of the need for environmental protection while increasingthe prospects for their bottom line. The environmentalists wantgreen collar jobs to be more pervasive for the sake of MotherEarth.Green MoneyThe better news for the Joes and Janes on the street is thatgreen collar jobs mean green dollars on their pockets.Punditsestimate that as many as 185,000 jobs can be generated by the endof 2010 and that figure is for the wind sector alone!In the solar energy sector, the numbers are more impressive with7 million jobs created by the year 2030.Of course, it may seem wayoff into the future but that future starts its roll today.Thus,professionals and skilled workers are advised to hone their skillsfor green jobs as early as possible.Efforts along this line will be well rewarded. Many online payscale sites have discovered in surveys that solar and wind energyworkers earn more than their counterparts with similar skills inother industries.Even entry level green energyjobs like solar powerinstaller and wind turbine fabricator can earn at least $36,100 peryear, depending on the skills, expertise and experience of theindividual as well as the location of the projects.Another good thing about green jobs aside from the betterpay is the upward mobility possible.Workers can move up the rankswith experience, seniority and advanced training depending oncompany policy.Of course, higher education in colleges as well as professionallicenses matter with green energyjobs but not as muchas one expected them to since even high school graduates can enterthe workforce.More often than not, one should have transferableskills that can be repurposed as well as the right training for thesolar and wind energy sectors.Green EarthGreen collar jobs also benefit the Earth as well as the pocketsof its human inhabitants.Keep in mind that the definition of greencollar jobs almost always center on the positive impact, eitherdirect or indirect, of the activities involved on the Earthitself.Thus, you will read of definitions whereby green collar jobsshould generate and use renewable energy, conserve naturalresources, minimize waste and use of hazardous materials, promotebiodiversity and a healthy ecosystem and lessen greenhouse gasemissions, to name a few goals. Indeed, green jobs are greenprecisely because these make for a greener Earth in more ways thanone.However, it cannot be overemphasized that gaining employableaccess to the green sector is not as easy as it seems.Of course,one can always directly apply to companies dealing in renewableenergy particularly solar and wind power, which are the largest andfastest-growing niches in the industry, but it is always better tohave previous training.Thus, we strongly suggest going back to school for training ineither niches.You will only spend a few months or years earningyour certification and/or associate’s degree but the rewards willbe for the long-term.This way, green jobs are yours for thetaking, thanks to your educational advantage.
