Published Jul-21-2010
The BLS plans to collect data about the number of green jobs and trends over time; the industrial, occupational, and geographic distribution of green jobs; and the wages paid for green jobs. The agency broadly defines a green job as one involved in economic activities that help protect or restore the environment or conserve natural resources. The definition includes activities such as renewable energy production, researching energy efficiency systems, reducing greenhouse gases, and conserving agricultural resources. In fact, the proposed federal definition of a green job closely resembles the official definition used in Oregon.
In a separate survey, a sample of businesses from all industries will be asked if they have any green practices, such as using electric vehicles to transport goods. If a firm does use green practices, they will provide information about the individual job(s) that are working directly with that practice. The results from both surveys will be combined to estimate the total number of green jobs across the country. Information about the wages paid to green jobs will be derived from other data sources.
Completion of the two national surveys will not only provide a comprehensive picture of how green jobs are affecting the workforce, they will allow comparisons between states and regions for the first time. Until now, each state has developed its own definition of a green job, and regional differences such as the inclusion or exclusion of hydropower as a renewable energy source have developed. Although the national data will be comparable across the country, it is unclear if the states will modify their definitions of a green job to match the national definition. As a result, it is likely that conflicting concepts and counts of green jobs will exist for many years to come.
For more information about the BLS's approach or to view its research related to green jobs in the United States, visit www.bls.gov/green.