Green Jobs: The Next Frontier of Employment
Presenter: Steven L. Burke, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C
Sustainability Coordinator, Symmes Maini and McKee Associates
Co-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Boston Society of Architects
Image: panarmio.com

What is a Green Job?(According to a government agency)
Earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Green Job Definition
Green jobs are either:
A. Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit
the environment or conserve natural resources.
B. Jobs in which workers' duties involve making their establishment's
production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer
natural resources
Sectors/Groups:
1. Energy from Renewable Sources.
2. Energy Efficiency.
3. Pollution Reduction and Removal, GHG Reduction, and Recycling and
Reuse.
4. Natural Resources Conservation.
5. Environmental Compliance, Education and Training, and Public Awareness

Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Green Job Analysis – 2009
2009: What did they find?
 2.1 Million U.S. Green Job Establishments
Statistics from the BLS
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
820,700
779,100
183,300
88,700
77,000 77,700
49,300 42,100
26,400
10,400
GREEN JOB ESTABLISHMENTS IN 2009

2010: What did they find?
 3.1 Million U.S. Green Jobs
 Green Jobs Out-Number Fossil Fuel Jobs 4 to 1
 Majority of jobs were in private sector (2.3 million), public sector accounted for 860,300.
Figures and text from thinkprogress.org and the BLS
Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Green Job Analysis – 2010
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
Manufacturing
Construction
Professional, Scientific,
Technical
Administrative and
Waste Services
Transportation and
Warehousing
461,847
372,077
349,024
319,915
245,057
GREEN JOBS IN 2010

2010: What did they find?
 3.1 Million U.S. Green Jobs
 Green Jobs Out-Number Fossil Fuel Jobs 4 to 1
 Majority of jobs were in private sector (2.3 million), public sector accounted for 860,300
Figures from the BLS and EPI
Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Green Job Analysis – 2010
Private- and public-sector share of total
green jobs, 2010

2010: What did they find?
 3.1 Million U.S. Green Jobs
 Green Jobs Out-Number Fossil Fuel Jobs 4 to 1
Figures from the BLS and EPI
Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Green Job Analysis – 2010

Figures from the Solar Foundation and BLS
Solar Jobs versus Coal Miners
2006
< 25,000 solar jobs in 2006
82,595 coal miners in 2006
Coal Image from Grabpage.com / Solar Image from

Figures from the Solar Foundation and Fortune Magazine
Solar Jobs versus Coal Miners
2014
173,807 solar jobs in 2014
93,185 coal miners in 2014
Coal Image from Grabpage.com / Solar Image from Dreamstime.com

Finance
2014
 Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact (SRI) Investing have increased by 76 percent
in the last two years
 SRI assets reached $6.57 Trillion at the start of 2014
-Quoted from Greenbiz.com
76% Increase
$6.57 Trillion
 Global sustainable investing assets grow 61% to US$21.4tr - over 30% of professionally
managed assets globally
-Quoted from Global Sustainable Investment Alliance

Finance
2014
 $36.6bn of green bonds issued by 73 different issuers –
that’s more than a tripling of the market
-Quoted From Climatebonds.net

Finance
2014 – Dow Jones Sustainability Index
 S&P Dow Jones and Robeco said they invited the world’s largest 3,400 companies from
both developed and emerging markets to undergo their corporate sustainability
assessments.
 They do this, they said, because investors want to know.
-Quoted from Greenbiz.com
Graphic Source: S&P Dow Jones and RobecoSAM

Earth Institute Job Boards – Columbia University
2014 and 2015 – 8 Week Survey
2014
 275 jobs listed over 8 weeks (May to July)
 50 Jobs Clearly Related to Sustainability or
had it in Job Title
 312 Internships in the same amount of
time
2015
 96 Jobs over 8 weeks (July to September)
 63 Jobs clearly related to Sustainability or
had it in Job Title
 9 Internships in the same amount of time

Earth Institute Job Boards – Columbia University
2014 and 2015 – 8 Week Survey

Earth Institute Job Boards – Columbia University
2014 and 2015 – 8 Week Survey
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
HS BA MS/PhD BS Pref. BS/MS MS Pref. MS NA BS
1 1 1
3
7
10
14 15
61
Degree Requirements for Green Jobs

Earth Institute Job Boards – Columbia University
2014 and 2015 – 8 Week Survey
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
NGO Healthcare Higher Ed Non-Profit Public Private
2 3
6
9
17
76
Jobs by Sector – 113 Jobs

Earth Institute Job Boards – Columbia University
2014 and 2015 – 8 Week Survey
1 to 3
24% (28 Jobs)
3 to 5
21% (24 Jobs)
5 to 8
22% (25 Jobs)
8 to 10
8% (8 Jobs)
More than 10
9% (11 Jobs)
N/A
16% (18 Jobs)
Years Experience Required – 113 Jobs

Earth Institute Job Boards – Columbia University
2014 and 2015 – 8 Week Survey
Certifications / Affiliations – 113 Jobs
N/A
51% (58 Jobs)
CSR
11% (12 Jobs)
CDP
6% (7 Jobs)
GRI
9% (10 Jobs)
LEED Jobs
23% (26 Jobs)
2014
 17 Jobs mentioning LEED
 34% of all listings that year
2015
 9 Jobs mentioning LEED
 14% of all listings that year

Green Construction
2014 – State of the Industry and Forecast
Graphic Source: USGBC

Green Construction
2014 – State of the Industry and Forecast
Graphic Source: USGBC

Green Construction
2014 – State of the Industry and Forecast
Graphic Source: USGBC

Thank you
Questions? Thoughts?