Cleantech Job Trends Report For 2009

No longer rhetoric for political platforms, cleantech jobs have become a viable and important reality for the American economy.

A new report from research firm Clean Edge, Inc. reveals how the cleantech industry has become one of the key markets for growth and job creation.

Industry  Background:

In a Pew Charitable Trusts report published in June 2009, clean-energy jobs accounted for half a percent of total employment in the U.S.-- roughly 770,000 jobs in 2007.

While this number might seem small, when placed in the same sphere as other mature U.S. industries as biotech (200,000 jobs), telecommunications (989,000), and traditional energy including utilities, coal mining and oil and gas extraction (1.3 million), it becomes quickly contextualized. 

The Pew report also found that clean-energy jobs are growing faster than other sectors, increasing by 9.1 percent from 1998 to 2007 compared to 3.7 percent growth for all U.S. jobs over that same time period.

According to Clean Edge research, the solar PV industry alone now represents approximately 200,000 direct and indirect jobs globally, while the wind power sector includes more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs globally.

Emphasizing an unprecedented level of interest and activity in clean-tech jobs in 2009, the Job Trends 2009 report (pdf) reveals a definitive change in attitude towards the cleantech industry. The attitude shift, along with noticeable market trends, has resulted in a new era of training and work experience in a host of innovative job sectors.

Top Cleantech Job Sectors:

1. Energy - renewable energy (e.g., Solar, Wind), energy storage, conservation and efficiency, smart grid devices and networks, electric transmission and grid infrastructure, and biomass and sustainable biofuels.
2. Transportation - hybrid-electric vehicles, all-electric vehicles, electric rail, hydrogen fuel cells for transport, advanced transportation infrastructure, and advanced batteries for vehicles.
3. Water -  energy-efficient desalination, UV filtration, reverse osmosis filtration, membranes, automated metering and controls, and water recovery and capture.
4. Materials - biomimicry, bio-based materials, reuse and recycling, green building materials, cradle-to-cradle systems, and green chemistry.

Not surprisingly, the jobs are plentiful and playing a key role in America's economic recovery. The report provides comprehensive lists and data on the following:

• Top 15 U.S. Metro Areas With Highest Cleantech Job Activity
• Top 10 Publicly Traded Cleantech Employers
• An Outline of How Certain Industries are Transitioning to Cleantech (and job loss/gain data that goes with it)
• Current Market Salaries for all Major Cleantech Industry Jobs
• Five Major Trends Reshaping the Cleantech Industry
• Five U.S. Models for Publicly Financing Cleantech Job Creation

Ideally, the research is designed for everyone, from job seekers to employers to investors and policymakers. Inside, you'll also find a job resource guide and information on where to find education and training.

As the introduction states, "Many believe we are just at the beginning of the clean-tech jobs creation era, with clean tech offering the greatest opportunity for wealth and job creation (and global economic competitiveness) since the advent of the computer and the Internet."