The recession has been grim. Every time you read more depressing statistics relating to the world’s economic woes it’s almost impossible to see anything positive. However, there is some news that points to a brighter future. In a previous post I wrote about green jobs leading to a good future and it seems that may in fact be the case.
Newsweek put out a list of ten recession-proof jobs (as recession-proof as you can get these days I guess) and sustainability-related jobs took four spots!
One of them was solar energy, here’s what Newsweek wrote:
“With 80 percent of oil industry employees facing retirement in the next decade, now’s the time for America to invest in renewable energy… And, aside from replenishing the oil and gas industry with younger workers, green energy (including nuclear) will see strong growth and increased employment rates, especially under an administration focused on clean energy initiatives.”
Wind energy was next on the list. According to a 2006 study released by the Renewable Energy Policy Project cited in the Newsweek article, researchers found that 2,000 businesses in Michigan could use wind turbine technology as an employment alternative for ailing auto workers. It went on to state that “as that industry declines, nearly 34,000 new jobs could be created by simply reorienting workers from their current manufacturing jobs to those focused on creating renewable energy for the state.”
Overall green business was also on the list with a continuing demand for eco-oriented project managers, attorneys, engineers, etc.
Energy efficiency was also listed as a recession-proof job, citing the need to fill green jobs that technology has created. As developments of these new technologies continue to flourish, more and more employees will be needed to see these projects through.
I guess it’s safe to say that jobs in the sustainability field are ones that will help us in riding out this recession and moving forward. To me, it’s just another example of why ‘green’ is indeed the way to go.
