With new governmental initiatives like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act it seems that green jobs are at the center of growth in the job sector. However, there are still rumors of an “eco-trend” that will die out, and the environmentally sustainable job sector along with it. With seemingly conflicting public opinions, it can be hard to know whether green jobs are just a fad or are here for good.

A new poll by The Career College Association (CCA) conducted by the Harris Initiative during March 9-11, 2010 of 2,099 adults gives good insights into the public opinion on green jobs.

A majority of respondents found that there were positive benefits to green jobs, like those in the clean and renewable energy sector, both to the American economy and to the environmental movement as a whole. 61% strongly/ somewhat agree that expanding green jobs will have a positive effect on the U.S. economy and 72% strongly/somewhat agree that the expansion of green jobs will help preserve a higher quality environment. Also, 63% strongly/somewhat agree that more green jobs would have a positive outcome on energy costs.

Most people see the benefits of green jobs, and think that they are a critical part of the growth of the economy. The government, with the institution of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, seems to think so too. This Act includes $600 million just for green jobs and training, and billions of dollars for projects related to renewable energy and grid expansion and improvement. In addition, according to research from the nonprofit organization The Pew Charitable Trust, jobs in the clean energy economy in the US grew almost tow and a half times faster than jobs in the overall economy between 1998 and 2007.

The government and people’s belief in the potential for the environmental sector indicates that green energy jobs are here for good. However, despite this most people do not know about the opportunities available in this field.
Less than one-third (29%) of American adults are aware of the growing availability of green employment and only one percent have a job in the green sector, or are considering this type of employment. CCA president Henry A. Miller also stated that this study shows “that public understanding of green jobs is not uniform, and that workers who might form the green jobs workforce of the future, particularly at the lower rungs of the education ladder, need to know more about practical steps they can take to prepare today.”

So are green jobs a fad or not?

The public opinion poll given by CCS indicates that people see the future in green jobs and government investment predicts future growth. Yet many people do not know about this growing sector.

All this indicates that green jobs are here for good—it’s just a matter of whether you know it or not.

Allies in Energy works specifically to help inform people of green jobs by providing employment services to growing clean energy companies. By connecting these companies with potential hires, Allies in Energy is on the frontlines of the growth in the green clean job movement.