Machismo in Green Sector Jobs

I have been a huge cynic of green jobs over the years. I believed that many or most jobs were small scale and only for bearded people from Seattle.

Now that Carbon Trading has been handed over to the financial market types, a bit more machismo has been added to it. Now these environmentalists are forced to wear suits and enjoy getting fat paycheques. I love it. One of my favorite expressions is "you only become conservative once you have something to conserve (such as family, job, and er.. fat paycheque).

Many people ask me about jobs in the sector and I try to lay out some lists. One great source is the Reuters Interactive community.

List of Green Jobs. Free sign up. A MUST if you are looking for jobs.


--And there is this article about the sector:

'Green' job market bucks credit crunch gloom

By Michael Szabo

LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - The 'Green' job market is thriving despite lay-offs across the financial and property sectors caused by the global credit crunch, environmental recruiters said on Friday.

With concerns over global warming climbing the corporate agenda, the number of climate change specific roles has near tripled in the past 12 months as business looks to cut its carbon footprint, UK-based Acre Resources said in a statement.

The environmental sector, or so-called 'green collar' jobs, including roles in renewable energy and corporate social responsibility, has seen some 20 percent growth in same period.

"Big companies ... have made very public pledges around their approach to green issues (and) despite pressures indicated by a looming recession, it is too late for most to renege on their environmental commitments," said Andrew Cartland, a managing director at Acre.

The average UK salary for a climate change professional in 2008 is 49,000 pounds ($96,910), up 14 percent from last year, while green collar wages climbed by around five percent to 34,000 pounds ($67,250), Acre said.

Top-end green jobs now earn as much as 120,000 pounds ($237,300) annually.

"While oil prices skyrocket, renewable energy solutions look to become more and more viable -- the focus on reducing energy and carbon emissions appears ever-more essential for business," Cartland added.

Oil prices hit a new record on Friday of over $139 a barrel.

"Many investors are supporting the green agenda as a 'safe' option," he said.

Despite being wounded by the credit crisis, banks are pressing ahead with investments in booming renewable energy sector.

Investment bank Morgan Stanley on Monday announced it has bought a minority stake $20 million in G24 Innovations, a UK-based solar energy company.

CLICK HERE for a list of "green collar" job vacancies

(Reporting by Michael Szabo; Editing by William Hardy)

((michael.szabo@reuters.com; +44 207 542 9242; Reuters Messaging: michael.szabo.reuters.com@reuters.net))