"Green-Collar" Jobs the Future of the Country?

(MS) - Through the years there have been a number of efforts aimed at revitalizing low-income areas of the country. The newest initiative involves the introduction of "green-collar" jobs to areas that are impoverished or need a financial push. The goal is that these jobs will provide a path for economic and social recovery in such areas.

Green-collar jobs are essentially blue-collar jobs that involve working with environmentally friendly services or products. Examples include a construction team working on an environmentally friendly building, or manufacturing of such items as solar panels or long-life light bulbs. Even producers of walking shoes or bicycle repair shops can be seen as "green" jobs because they're promoting activities that don't negatively impact the environment.

According to research, the green movement is big business. Currently, "green" is the fifth largest sector of the market in the United States alone. Economists predict that "green" may be able to provide the economic revitalization that certain areas need.

Green-Collar Jobs a New Hope

Green-collar jobs represent an option for workers in a time when many blue-collar jobs are evaporating or being handled overseas. What's more, generally green-collar jobs are local jobs. This means that the communities and workers doing "green" good are not only benefitting from a stable job, they're seeing money stay in the community. Also, the trickle-down effect of green-collar work is that the environment in these communities can also be improved through sustainable practices and other "green" employment. It is widely believed that you can't outsource a green job, and a green job doesn't take a toll on public health.

Learning New Skills

Green-collar jobs can also give workers the opportunity to learn new skills and become marketable outside of their local communities. Green jobs require a specialized skill set. This gives workers who have been pushed out of the economic pool an opportunity to acquire new skills and be extremely marketable for jobs in the new clean and green economy.

The environment and "green" movement may be more than just a platform for politicians as we approach the 2008 elections. Green could be the answer for the millions of people who are looking to re-enter the workforce in a viable way. TF07C247

CAPTION: Construction jobs building "green" buildings are considered green-collar jobs.

SIDEBAR: Green-Collar Jobs

· Bicycle repair and bike delivery services

· Car and truck mechanic jobs, production jobs, and gas-station jobs related to biodiesel

· Retrofits to increase energy efficiency and conservation

· Green building

· Green waste composting on a large scale

· Hauling and reuse of construction materials and debris (C&D)

· Hazardous materials clean-up

· Landscaping

· Manufacturing jobs related to large scale production of appropriate technologies (i.e. solar panels, bike cargo systems, green waste bins, etc.)

· Parks and open space expansion and maintenance

· Public transit jobs related to driving, maintenance, and repair

· Recycling and reuse

· Small businesses producing products from recycled materials

· Solar installation

· Tree cutting and pruning

· Water retrofits to increase water efficiency and conservation

· Whole home performance, including attic insulation, weatherization, etc.

Courtesy of Urban Habitat

Keywords:
income green-collar jobs economic social financial blue-collar construction