I’ve heard a lot about a green economy’s potential and the boost it could promise for the job market. Living on Earth and others have reported on the topic recently. It’s big news if the promises come through: blue collar jobs for millions of Americans, upward social mobility, and an international industry for the U.S.A. to dominate. Let’s not forget the icing on the cake, the wide-spread benefits for society and the environment. It sounds like a win-win situation if it takes off. Google just invested millions into solar and wind and hopes to help make renewables cheaper than coal. Things are already looking up, right?

If you cruise the various “Green Job Boards” (see a list below) you may be inclined to agree. The boards are littered with jobs in every field around the country. California, Washington DC and New York City are hot spots for these positions.The national job boards often do not include local listings. The local job market cannot be underestimated, as an area like the Baltimore/DC metro corridor encompasses millions of businesses and local job seekers. Even my native Chattanooga, TN boasts a cut of the green economy. The city is proud of its electric bus fleet and Riverpark and they help boost the local economy.

This past August I felt elated as I sat down to career search in the green economy. As a college grad with a double-major from a prestigious liberal arts college and a year of international working experience, I thought it wouldn’t take long (a month or two) before I landed a “green” job. The afore-mentioned reports gave me that hope we idealistic youth grow out of as reality sets in, but it has been four months with two interviews. Reality is come. There will always be some positions available, but I’m referring to a boom in growth. I’d like to pose this question to the blog sphere. Has the recent economic downturn sapped the surge? Do we need government subsidies or will new advances provide all the impetus we need?

 Job search sites with the environment in mind: 

http://www.greenbiz.com/jobs/ 

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/

http://www.greenjobs.com/Public/Index.aspx 

http://www.ecoemploy.com/

http://www.simplyhired.com/a/special-searches/eco-friendly

http://www.environmentalcareer.info/jobseekers/search.asp 

(image courtesy of  celsias.com)