The government has been stating that green jobs are the future of the green economy, with green job growth growing 2.5 times faster than overall job growth according to the Pew Charitable Trust. Large amounts of investments have been put into green energy and clean energy as the future of the energy sector.

Yet how is the government actually going to measure green job growth and creation? For that matter,
how do you measure something that is as hard to define as a “green job?” This vague definition of a green job causes a lot of contention among states and environmental activists alike.

For now, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has settled with determining which jobs are “green” by “identifying activity that either preserves or restores the environment by examining both a business’s output and process, and counting the associated jobs.”

This definition means that across a range of industries and occupations some unexpected jobs are still defined as “green.” Solid waste collection? Green collar. Employment at a science museum? Green collar. Selling anything organic? Green collar.

Yet, despite the unclear definition, it is clear that more states are seeking to promote themselves as “green.” States like Nevada have invested in wind energy and solar energy. These investments increase the number of local green jobs and increase the growth for the state to grow into a predominantly green economy, as well as allowing the state to receive the tax incentives that follow with the green movement.

Although the definition of what a “green job” is may not be set in stone, the opportunities within the area are undeniable. Firms like Allies in Energy, a clean energy staffing company, help people and emerging businesses decipher industry definitions to get the right people they need to succeed in the green economy.