Green Collar Jobs Initiatives

The high cost of energy and the growing awareness to limit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is creating a movement to "green" forms of energy throughout the United States and the world. Further, in 2006 alone, renewable energy and energy efficiency were responsible for $970 billion in industry revenues and 8.5 million jobs.

The workforce development system can play a key role in this groundswell by building partnerships in the community that promote the development of "green" enterprises and provide the training and support needed to build a pipeline of skilled workers for these 'green-collar jobs. This article describes programs in Milwaukee, Chicago, Oakland, District of Columbia, and New York City that create economic and associated workforce solutions for this growing industry.