In a changing economy, the emerging green industry may be the best career path to pursue for the future.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, December 02, 2009 ) Fort Lauderdale, FL – With unemployment rates now approaching record levels, many people are choosing or giving serious consideration to a change in career. Making the choice for change in itself is not easy. Choosing a direction with a lucrative future, however, is proving to be just as difficult. The economy is changing, and so, by default, is the job outlook for the future. Career paths that were once considered rock solid for job security are beginning to wobble. A degree in business will be useless if few opportunities to put it to work in the future exist. In such a volatile economic climate, where do you start to make a knowledgeable choice in education and training that will prepare for the future? Start with “green”, as in green economy, green industry and green jobs.
What is “green”? In a report for the US Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration by the Occupational Information Network, the green economy is defined as “the economic activity related to reducing the use of fossil fuels, decreasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the efficiency of energy usage, recycling materials, and developing and adopting renewable sources of energy.” President Obama has placed a priority on building a national clean energy industry that would remedy both our dependence on foreign resources and the need to create new jobs. His plan calls for the development of a definable green economy and industry.
In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $80 billion has been set aside for clean energy investments. Within that allocation, $600 million is designated for job training in the green industry. But what exactly does someone who works in the green industry do? What kind of green industry jobs will there be, and what training will be needed?
The Occupational Information Network’s report has designated twelve different job sectors that cover what is considered the green industry. The sectors are:
Agriculture and Forestry
Energy and Carbon Capture and Storage
Energy Efficiency
Energy Trading
Environment Protection
Governmental and Regulatory Administration
Green Construction
Manufacturing
Recycling and Waste Reduction
Renewable Energy Generation
Research, Design and Consulting Services
Transportation
Within these sectors, they have highlighted over 100 occupations as either being Enhanced Skill or Increased Demand. Additionally, nearly 50 have been classified as New and Emerging Occupations.
Preparing for a career in any of the green industry sectors ranges, as in any field, from a master’s or bachelor’s degree to certification training. As a developing industry, not all educational institutions have implemented environmental-related programs yet. Recent findings have shown several green industry-focused online degree programs available. These programs include online courses that cover such subjects as sustainability concepts, management of green enterprises and administration of environmental policy.
The relative newness of the green industry and preparing for a career related to it warrants a bit of caution. Sheila Danzig, Director of Degree.com, warns that it is critical to be certain that the institution administering the program, whether it is by way of a physical campus or online study, is accredited.
Tags: college students, degree., Education, green jobs, online courses, online degree, Online Degree Programs, online study, Sheila Danzig, www.degree.com