Report sheds light on 'green' jobs in Minnesota

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"Minnesota's Emerging Green Economy: Green Jobs Report 2011," a comprehensive study of the state's green job vacancies and potential for growth, is now available, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced.

"Identifying green jobs and the skills that people will need to work in them will help Minnesota identify economic development strategies, as well as strategies for workforce training and education," said DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips. "With the support of the Workforce Investment Boards, the Governor's Workforce Development Council, and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, we are pleased to release this important research."

Key research findings include:

· Green job vacancies represented 2.5 percent of the overall hiring demand in Minnesota between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the second quarter of 2011, an estimate in line with other states.

· Green vacancies were found in 263 predominantly privately owned firms, with about one-half in the Twin Cities metro area and one-half outside of the metro area.

· Green vacancies overall offered higher quality employment than total vacancies, with higher wage offers and more job stability (89 percent full-time and 79 percent permanent positions).

· Green vacancies required a higher education level than other vacancies. The most common degrees needed to work in green jobs are bachelor's and vocational degrees.

· Green vacancies were spread across 150 occupations, with more than one-half in the following occupational groups: installation, maintenance and repair; architecture and engineering; construction; and management and business specialists.

Advances in technology, consumer demand for green products and services, and the pace with which companies adopt green processes will drive future job growth in Minnesota's green economy.

The report also details existing green activities in Minnesota and their growth potential.

The two-year study was funded by a U.S. Department of Labor grant, authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to quantify the impact of the green economy on the labor market in Minnesota. Research findings were also used to develop the ISEEK green careers portal to help people explore and plan careers in green jobs.

Links to the complete report and executive summary are at www.tinyurl.com/greenjobsstudy

DEED is the state's principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development.

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