Green collar workers. With all the concerns about the environment, green-collar jobs have become the hot new employment sector.

by missbellemore (student)

JENNIFER BELLEMORE

November 20, 2012

ENG 001-Siliver

Green-collar jobs

You have heard of white-collar workers. They are the suit wearing lawyers, sale managers and bankers sitting behind office desks. Then there is the blue-collar workers, which are the machinists, electricians, and construction workers. Today, there is a new trend in the job market. Many of American workers are trading in their old jobs for a collar of a decidedly greener tint. With all the concerns about the environment, green-collar jobs have become the hot new employment sector. These jobs are not easily defined as white or blue-collar jobs because they can range from manual to managerial, but they all have the same goal of improving the quality of our environment by reducing waste and pollution. The demands for green collar workers are high. You don’t need higher education to land a job in the category of green-collar workers.

Green collar jobs help preserve, restore, or improve the environment. They save energy and advance new energy efficient technologies. There are high demands for energy saving alternative at home. They foster a more sustainable regional and national energy system. For examples, there are solar panel installations, recycling officers, wind farms, bicycle repair, landscaping, organic farming, and

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work in the alternative energy sector. Green-collar careers are diverse, drawing upon a wide assortment of skills, and many of them are concentrated locally. Since green-collar jobs are locally based, many people see them as an opportunity for community involvement.

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Green collar jobs are needed the most right now because of few reasons. They create new jobs for those unemployed due to the current economic downfall and provide opportunities for career advancement. Workers reduce our dependence on the foreign oil and strengthening the national security. They are also needed to promote the use of renewable energy resources, reduce the tax burdens of inefficient public building and public housings. These jobs also help mitigate climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Green collar jobs involve the design, manufacture, installation, operation and/or maintenance of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Jobs come from many varieties of industries so education and experience requirement vary. Many require special on the job training or certification. For example, Solar panel installers need to be certified through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. You don’t have to have a bachelor degree and you can start working at the bottom and work your way up.

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In 1980s, the personal computer revolution was started. In the 1990s, jobs were created by the Internet and software development, and in this decade the people hope new developments in clean energy will bring a new wave of green jobs to America. With the changes of the technology over the years, the environment awareness is gaining that lead to more green-collar jobs in the future.

“.... We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.”

President- Barack Obama January 20, 2009