NEWS ARTICLE
May 6, 2009
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New Jersey's unemployment rate for January 2009 was 7.3 percent, the highest level in 15 years. This translates into the loss of 85,700 jobs in New Jersey between December 2007 and December 2008. As the state and local governments struggle to find solutions to stem the flow of jobs from New Jersey, economic development policies aimed at creating green collar jobs provide a viable option.
The green economy and green collar jobs are at the forefront of President Obama's economic stimulus plan and are a key goal in New Jersey's Energy Master Plan. In late February, Governor Corzine launched a $2 million green jobs training program that will be piloted in Trenton and spread throughout the state. Moreover, it is estimated that New Jersey will receive $850 million in stimulus funds, a significant portion of which will be allocated to creating green jobs.
Van Jones, a special advisor to the Obama administration on green jobs, defines a green collar job as "family-supporting, career-track, vocational, or trade-level employment in environmentally-friendly fields." Green-collar jobs are similar to blue-collar jobs; however, they have greater focus on environmental integrity. While green jobs typically require less education than a four-year college degree, they still require training and apprenticeship programs. The jobs often provide advancement opportunities, enabling individuals to work their way up from entry level positions to higher level positions, such as project manager.
There are innovative programs throughout New Jersey and the country aimed at creating green collar jobs and developing a labor pool qualified to meet the demands of the emerging green economy. The opportunities for job creation and training encompass diverse areas and meet a variety of sustainability goals, including energy efficiency, development of alternative energy, and conservation. The following examples of green collar training programs highlight only a few of the diverse green collar employment opportunities. For a thorough description of green collar job opportunities, go to www.greenforall.org.
Energy Conservation Nationwide, buildings are responsible for 39 percent of our energy use. State, county and local governments have an opportunity to increase the energy efficiency of existing buildings and generate new employment opportunities through developing retrofitting and weatherization programs. The greening of existing buildings creates a demand for individuals knowledgeable in green construction and maintenance, with skills in energy audits, water conservation, high performance HVAC systems, green roof installation and lighting systems.
Municipalities can partner with a non-profit, county workforce development center, or educational institution to offer training in green building practices for a wide audience, including youth in vocational programs, unemployed residents, and individuals currently employed in the conventional construction industry. This program coupled with a municipality's commitment to retrofit municipally-owned buildings with energy and water conservation technologies will create "shovel ready" job opportunities while reducing long-term building operating costs. Once the training and public projects are completed, participants will have skills and experience that can transfer to the private sector.
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