Question for you: Are you more likely to find a job in fossil fuels or in green technology? The answer may surprise you. Yes, the green tech industry is “greener” — or newer — than that for fossil fuels. But contrary to popular belief, the United States’ green economy has expanded so much during the past several years that it now employs about 10 times the number of people employed in fossil fuels.
What’s particularly amazing about this finding is that green
tech ranks high for employment opportunities despite the fact that the gas and
oil industries have been on an upswing during the past decade.
The sector for fossil fuels, including gas plans and coal
mines, featured about 900,000 workers between 2015 and 2016 in the United
States. However, during this same period, the green tech industry offered
around 9.5 million positions, or 4% of jobs. Jobs in this industry range from
environmental consultant jobs to renewable energy roles. All in all, the green
industry is said to be worth a whopping $1.3 trillion – 7% of the gross
domestic product in the United States.
So, what does this mean for us as a nation in the United
States? It means that a governmental policy that is heavily focused on mining
and coal jobs is misguided from an economic standpoint.
In light of the above statistics, it’s paramount that political
leaders both today and in the future recognize the green tech industry for the economic
value it offers. Only then will they take the necessary steps to make sure that
the existing green economy flourishes for the benefit of both modern workers
and the earth itself for years to come.
