This survey of over 1,500 organizations found that: - 40% of organizations are currently focusing on creating green jobs or adding green duties to existing jobs, while 55% are not and 5% plan to in the future. - For those adding green jobs, the focus has increased over the past 12 months (34%) and 2 years (20%), while staying the same for most others (65% and 79%). - The most common reasons organizations are not adding green jobs are that no need/opportunity exists (75%), cost implications (17%), and lack of management support (16%). - The most common green job activities have been adding new green duties to existing positions (81%)

1. SHRM Poll: Green Jobs—Are They Here Yet?
July 14, 2010

2. Introduction
For the purpose of this research, green jobs are defined as jobs that involve:
> Reducing pollution or waste.
> Reducing energy usage.
> Reducing use of limited natural resources.
> Protecting wildlife or ecosystems.
> Lowering carbon emissions and developing alternative energy.
These jobs primarily meet the need for more environmentally responsible
production/work processes and/or the development of green goods and services.
The sample for this survey comprised of the following seven industries: services,
government, manufacturing, transportation, technology, construction and utilities.
Green Jobs – Are They Here Yet?| ©SHRM 2010 2

3. Is your organization currently focusing on creating green jobs OR adding
duties within existing or newly created jobs that can be considered
green?
Plan to, 5%
Yes, 40%
No, 55%
Yes No Plan to
Note: n = 1577. “Not applicable” responses were exclude from this analysis.
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4. Has your organization’s focus on creating green jobs or adding duties
within existing or newly created jobs that can be considered green
increased, stayed the same or decreased in the last…?
34%
12 months (n = 572) 65%
1%
20%
2 years (n = 486) 79%
1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Decreased Stayed the same Increased
Note: “Not sure” responses were exclude from this analysis. Only respondents whose organizations are
focusing on creating green jobs or adding green duties within existing or newly created jobs were asked this
question..
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5. If your organization is not currently focusing on creating green jobs OR
adding duties within existing or newly created jobs that can be
considered green, what are the reasons?
No need/opportunity exists at my organization for green 75%
jobs
Cost implications of creating green jobs 17%
Lack of support by management 16%
Concerns about workplace inefficiency
7%
Other 4%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Note: n = 826. Percentages do not total 100% as multiple response options were allowed.. Only organizations that are currently not adding green jobs were
asked this question. “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis.
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6. In the past 12 months, which of the following have taken place at your
organization to meet the demands for more environmentally
responsible production/work processes or the development of
“greener” ways of working?
New green duties have been added to existing positions 81%
at my organization
Created completely new green positions OR added green 23%
duties within newly created jobs
Increased staff levels (added more staff ) of existing jobs
that already had green duties as part of the overall 19%
position
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Note: n = 606. Percentages do not total 100% as multiple response options were allowed.“Not sure” and “none” were excluded from this analysis.
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7. In which of the following occupation categories has your organization
added new duties, increased staff levels or created completely new
positions?
Occupation Categories Definitions of Occupation Categories Added new Increased staff Created
green duties levels of completely new
existing jobs green positions
with green (25% to 100% of
duties as part job has green
of position duties)
Office and Office and administrative support workers perform the day-to-day activities of the office, 80% 16% 4%
administrative such as preparing and filing documents, dealing with the public and distributing
information. Green jobs in this occupational group are those that primarily involve
support occupations supporting the efforts of the organization to reduce its environmental impact.
(n = 342)
Transportation and Transportation and material moving workers transport people and materials by land, sea or 79% 12% 9%
material moving air. Green jobs in this area might be those that involve the development and use of
alternative energy or low-carbon transportation methods.
occupations
(n = 140)
Service occupations Service worker jobs span a wide range of industries. Although among service occupation 76% 16% 8%
(n = 212) subgroups ,the largest number of new jobs will occur in health care support occupations,
there are some potential green jobs in this occupational category, such as grounds and
building maintenance workers, or hospitality or food preparation jobs for companies in
fields such as eco-tourism or those producing green products and services.
Construction trades Construction and extraction workers as those who build new residential and commercial 74% 19% 7%
and related workers buildings and also work in mines, quarries and oil and gas fields. Green jobs in this
occupational group could include carpenters, construction and building inspectors,
(n = 168) construction laborers, electricians and insulation workers who work on improving energy
efficiency or ensuring LEED compliance (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a
US Green Building Council accreditation registration) or, in some cases, hazardous materials
removal workers.
Installations, Workers in installation, maintenance and repair occupations install new equipment and 74% 17% 9%
maintenance and maintain and repair older equipment. Many of these jobs are in the construction industry
and involve the maintenance and repair of buildings and infrastructure. Green jobs in this
repair occupations occupational group might include general maintenance and repair workers, installation,
(n = 254) maintenance or repair technicians for solar panels, wind energy or other alternative energy
equipment and some automotive and heavy vehicle service technicians and mechanics.
Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. Green Jobs – Are They Here Yet?| ©SHRM 2010 7

8. In which of the following occupation categories has your organization
added new duties, increased staff level or created completely new
positions? (continued)
Occupation Definitions of Occupation Categories Added new Increased Created
Categories green duties staff levels completely
of existing new green
jobs with positions
green duties (25% to
as part of 100% of job
position has green
duties)
Management and Workers in management, business and financial occupations plan and direct the activities of 72% 15% 13%
business and business, government and other organizations. Examples of green jobs in this occupational
group could include construction managers, engineering or natural science managers,
financial farming or agricultural managers, production managers for green industries or top
occupations executives such as chief sustainability officer.
(n = 341)
Production Production workers are employed mainly in manufacturing, where they assemble goods and 72% 18% 10%
occupations operate plants. Green jobs in this category would include assemblers and fabricators of
green products, alternative energy power distributors and dispatchers or water and waste
(n = 163) recycling and management system operators.
Sales and related These jobs involve sales and related workers that solicit goods and services for businesses 68% 18% 14%
occupations and consumers. Green jobs in this occupational group are those that primarily involve the
sale of green goods and services across a wide variety of industries, especially retail sales.
(n = 166)
Professional and This occupational group includes a wide variety of skilled professions. Green jobs in 68% 19% 13%
related this occupational group could include green-building and landscape architects,
occupations engineers, biological or conservation scientists, foresters, environmental
(n = 347) technicians and specialists, commercial and industrial designers, and occupational
health and safety specialists.
Farming, fishing Farming, fishing and forestry workers cultivate plants, breed and raise livestock and 67% 22% 11%
and forestry catch animals. Examples of green jobs in this occupational group could include
occupations forest and conservation workers, organic farmers and agricultural inspectors.
(n = 27)
Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. Green Jobs – Are They Here Yet?| ©SHRM 2010 8

9. In which of the following occupation categories has your organization
added new duties, increased staff level or created completely new
positions?
Office and administrative support occupations 80% 16% 4%
Transportation and material moving occupations 79% 12% 9%
Service occupations 76% 16% 8%
Construction trades and related workers 74% 19% 7%
Installation, maintenance and repair occupations 74% 17% 9%
Management and business and financial occupations 72% 15% 13%
Production occupations 72% 18% 10%
Sales and related occupations 68% 18% 14%
Professional and related occupations 68% 19% 13%
Farming, fishing and forestry occupations 67% 22% 11%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Added new green duties
Increased staff levels of existing jobs with green duties as part of position
Created completely new green positions (25% to 100% of job has green duties)
Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to
rounding. Green Jobs – Are They Here Yet?| ©SHRM 2010 9

10. What is your organization doing or planning to do to prepare current employees for
the need to shift to more environmentally responsible production/work processes
and meet the demand for the development of greener ways of working?
Providing on-the-job training for employees 67%
Paying for employees to take courses (e.g., self-paced learning, 31%
seminars, etc.) to improve their skills in this area
Paying for employees to obtain certificates/licenses in this area 28%
Encouraging, but not paying for, employees to take courses (e.g., self- 21%
paced learning, seminars, etc.) to improve their skills in this area
Encouraging, but not paying for, employees to obtain 9%
certificates/licenses in this area
Paying for employees to obtain a degree/post-graduate degree in this 7%
area
Encouraging, but not paying for, employees to obtain a degree/post- 3%
graduate degree in this area
Other 7%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Note: n = 688. Percentages do not total 100% as multiple response options were allowed. Respondents were
asked to select their top three actions. Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis.
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11. Broadly speaking, what are the main skills needed for the green jobs that your
organization has already added or is planning to add?
Technical 63%
Communication 45%
Problem-solving 40%
Strategic 38%
Managerial 25%
Interpersonal 10%
Basic literacy/readiness (e.g., math, reading, writing, etc.) 9%
Other 1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Note: n = 710. Percentages do not total 100% as multiple response options were allowed.
Respondents were asked to select their top 3 actions.
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12. Demographics: Organization Industry
Services 20%
Government sector 16%
Manufacturing 15%
Transportation 13%
Technology 13%
Construction 12%
Utilities 11%
0% 10% 20% 30%
Note: n= 1439
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13. Demographics: Organization Sector
Privately owned for-profit organization 53%
Publicly owned for-profit organization 21%
Government sector 16%
Nonprofit organization 8%
Other 2%
-10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Note: n= 1438
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14. Demographics: Organization Staff Size
50%
45%
40%
33%
30%
22%
20%
10%
0%
Small (1-99 employees) Medium (100-499 employees) Large (500 or more employees)
Note: n = 1368
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15. SHRM Poll: Green Jobs – Are They Here Yet?
Methodology
• Response rate = 13%
• Sample comprised of 1,705 randomly selected HR
professionals from SHRM’s membership from the
following industries: services, government,
manufacturing, transportation, technology, construction
and utilities
• Margin of error is +/- 4
• Survey fielded June 4–June 15, 2010
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