There is a new report called Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, commissioned and funded by the United Nations' Environment Programme as part of a Green Jobs Initiative. It finds that "There is broad agreement that alternative energy creates more jobs than conventional sources do — in other words, a switch from oil, gas, or coal produces a net gain in employment."
Here are some specifics:
in 2006 there were 170,000 Solar PV (photovoltaic) jobs worldwide, 15,700 in the U.S.
by 2030 there are expected to be 6.3 million such jobs
installation and maintenance of solar PV and solar thermal systems in particular offer tremendous job growth
several countries have reported that a “skills gap” already exists between available workers and the needs of green industries
markets for the manufacturing and installation of solar PV modules and components grew from $4.7 billion in 2003 to $15.6 billion in 2006, and will likely grow to $69.3 billion by 2016
solar PV could account for 11.2 percent of global electricity production in 2030
a study by the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) Charitable Trust suggested that current demand in California would create 3,000 permanent operations and maintenance jobs
according to the Solar Initiative of New York, the development of solar electricity in the state can support 3,000 direct installation or maintenance jobs and more than 10,000 manufacturing and integration jobs by 2017
an analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) found that establishment of a national Renewable Electricity Standard could create 185,000 jobs nationwide
a study by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) found that in 2006 the U.S. renewables sector employed close to 200,000 people directly and 246,000 indirectly. The report says that by 2030, some 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs could be created under a “business-as-usual” scenario, and 7.9 million under a scenario with strong national policies, including targets, standards, and invigorated R&D.
between 2000 and 2005, the solar photovoltaics (PV) industry averaged annual growth rates of more than 40 percent; global sales revenues of $12 billion in 2006 are projected to rise to $27.5 billion by 2012
a “PV Roadmap” produced by the U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) suggests that employment could rise from 20,000 today to 62,000 by 2015, 260,000 by 2030, and 350,000 by 2050
This report is the first comprehensive study on the emergence of a “green economy” and its impact on the world of work. It includes new data that shows a changing pattern of employment in which green jobs are being generated in many sectors and economies around the world as a result of measures to tackle climate change and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Green Jobs
