Green Jobs Studies: A Flood of Info

Some say green jobs are the ticket to a new U.S. economy. Others claim stimulus-created green jobs will get us through to the other side of the ongoing economic nightmare. And still others poo-pooh the whole thing.

As we live in an open society, we can all try to figure out what green jobs mean to the economy and our industry for ourselves. Several studies claim to offer an easy-to-grab handle on the truth, the facts, and (with somewhat less certainty) the future.

Here are a few of these studies (by no means a comprehensive list!), with some comments:

Booz Allen Hamilton/USGBC report – Released at GreenBuild 2009, this report details USGBC’s contention that “green building will support or create 7.9 million jobs between 2009 and 2013,” You can download the report (52 pp, PDF) or a slideshow (.ppt) on the study here.

For an idea of how complicated all of this might be – and where the electrical trade is seen (by at least some) as fitting in – read these words, from page 4 of the report:

“The term ‘green jobs’ or ‘green collar jobs’ is not well-defined. There are some professions that should be clearly considered green jobs, such as wind turbine manufacturers or green building designers.

“However, other traditional jobs such as electricians have been ‘upskilled’ to take advantage of new technologies, such as learning how to install rooftop solar photovoltaic units.

“It is reasonable to consider both types of jobs as green jobs. However, this study does not have sufficient data to delineate between green and traditional jobs; it is only able to calculate the total number of jobs created as a result of green building investment.

“Therefore, this study estimates two sets of numbers in this report, which creates a range of employment values to help frame the magnitude of economic impact resulting from green buildings.”

ASES Green Jobs Report (January 2009) – the American Solar Energy Society’s intro claims “tackling climate change nets 4.5 million jobs.” The detailed report, put together by Management Information Services, Inc., is a 207-page PDF.

Don’t want to read all of that? See this page, where ASES claims that its report “forecasts 37 million jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency in 2030.”

If you skim the report, you might be surprised to find – considering the source is a solar group – that more jobs are predicted from energy efficiency than from renewables.

Green Jobs: Survey of the Energy Industry – a 17 page PDF from the Association of Energy Engineers. It’s a surface report on a survey, with some data on salaries.

State-by-state run-down of green jobs, from the Pew Charitable Trusts. See this page for a slide show and state-by-state rankings. The claim:

“Between 1998 and 2007, jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent.  By 2007, more than 68,200 businesses across all 50 states and the District of Columbia accounted for more than 770,000 jobs, despite a lack of sustained government support in the past decade.”

New York City Green Collar Jobs Roadmap – out two months ago from the Center for American Progress, go to this page to download the eight-page executive summary or the full 102 page report. From the report (p32):

“The State Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, which requires 15 percent of New York State’s reduction in electricity use to come from efficiency is also projected to create more than 51,000 jobs (in person years) over the next three years, the majority being construction trade jobs. In each of these years, the EEPS is expected to create 480 construction managers; 1,277 construction laborers; 2,778 electricians; 1,961 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters; 666 operating engineers; and 380 construction trade helpers.”

And from the same page: “ . .   according to the New York State Department of Labor, several energy-related construction job titles have a “very favorable” occupational outlook in New York City. The New York State DOL anticipates over 1,100 openings for electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters by 2011.”

Also worth checking out:

• AIA report estimates 270,000 construction jobs could be created – if the American Clean Energy Security Act is passed.

• Bureau of Labor Statistics article (two page PDF) on the job of being a solar photovoltaic installer.

• State of California (government) – Clean Energy Workforce Training Program.

• “Energy-efficiency improvements” in Waxman-Markey (proposed legislation) could create 569,000 jobs.” – from the ACEEE.

• McKinsey report estimates 900,000 jobs could be created if the nation invests in improving energy efficiency in existing buildings. Release (three page PDF). See McKinsey web page to download executive summary or full report.

• Recovery Through Retrofit, a study released 10/19/09 by VP Joe Biden. Release here; the 14-page PDF can be downloaded here.

This is NOT a comprehensive overview, just a sampling. There are other reports and studies, including those that tackle one state at a time.