More than Meets the Eye: New Report Shows Value of Green Jobs

A new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) shows how investments in the green economy produce results far beyond sustainability gains. EPI took the BLS green jobs data and matched it with current employment trends. By doing so, they found:

• Green industries grow faster than the overall economy
• States with higher shares of employment in green jobs generally fare better in the current economy downturn
• Manufacturing plays a strong role in the green economy, representing 20.4 percent of green jobs, versus 10.8 percent of total private employment.
• Green jobs are more than jobs in the renewable energy industry. Nearly 50 percent of jobs in the water industry are green jobs

These findings reinforce the conclusion that the green economy is the economy of the future. It provides more diverse employment opportunities, could revitalize our manufacturing industry, and has great potential for growth. In this case, we really are limited only by how much we are willing to invest. The results clearly show greater investment equals greater growth. Doesn't get more simple than that.