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Green Jobs: Hot Jobs for a Cooler Climate

LinkedIn Analysis of Green Job Posting in 2020Growth
  
Traditional green jobs 
Energy Analyst88%
Transportation Engineer47%
Facilities Operations Manager31%
Geologist19%
Health Safety Environmental Supervisor10%
  
Nontraditional green jobs 
Customer Service Representative71%
Sales Representative62%
Warehouse Specialist45%
Compliance Manager31%
Quality Inspector16%
Chart data source: George Anders Workforce Insights Newsletter

The pandemic has caused many to reflect on what is important in life, including work choices.  Perhaps you or someone you know is wondering about how to make a difference in the world.  Green jobs are one path. We’re not talking just science geeks anymore, though Energy Analyst job postings increased a whopping 88% in 2020. Sales Specialists in green industries also had a huge increase, by 62% last year. In recognition of Earth Day month, I’m featuring recent LinkedIn data on green jobs and green skills.  The data is simply a snapshot of what is going on, not outlook predictions.  For this, naturally the US Department of Labor is the go-to source, but it features only traditional green jobs, such as Solar Voltaric Installers growing by 50.5% in the 2019-2029 period.

LinkedIn conducted an analysis of thousands of postings in 2020 related to green-economy skills.   The jobs were classified as either traditional green jobs or non-traditional green jobs. The results showed that there were 2.6 non-traditional green job postings for every traditional green job.

A March 2021 article in GreenBiz featured LinkedIn’s chief Economist, Karin Kimbrough. She shared, “We identified about 800 ‘core’ green skills and more than 300 green-related skills across 12 categories.”  The fastest growing green skills are in ecosystem management, environmental policy and sustainable procurement.

Some examples cited of trends in skills growth among less traditional “green” areas include:

  • In environmental finance, sustainable investment is increasingly being reported by investment analysts and portfolio managers.
  • In pollution prevention, knowledge of sustainable fashion is increasingly popular among designers, stylists, and sales staff.

Keep in mind that an increase in self-reporting of green skills may indicate candidate interest as much as job requirements or growth. The most trusted source for job outlook is the U.S. Department of Labor; however, the focus of green job reporting is on traditional science-related jobs.

In the April 21, 2021 Department of Labor blogpost, Green Jobs with the Most Projected Openings, 2019-2029, here are the nine highlighted jobs, four with faster than average growth:

  • Environmental scientists and specialists
  • Chemists
  • Hazardous materials removal workers
  • Environmental science and protection technicians
  • Environmental Engineers
  • Geoscientists
  • Biochemists and biophysicists
  • Solar photovoltaic installers
  • Conservation Scientists

Click here to link to the article which contains salary and outlook information as well as links to career descriptions.

Click here for a link I like that includes a few sustainability careers without technical requirements, including:

  • Ecotourism Guide
  • Environmental Public Relations Specialist
  • Zoning Technician

There are green job opportunities at all education and income levels. Remember that besides outlook, grounded career decision-making also includes looking at interests, skills, values and personality traits.  Career counseling can help a person explore and sort through the wide range of options to make a difference in the greening world!

Photo by permission of Pexels by Arthur Ogleznev – 1296265

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Job Market: Linked In Analysis

LinkedIn published a special Jobs on the Rise report in January 2021 analyzing job listings between April and October 2020 since the economy has changed so much due to the pandemic. LinkedIn tracked the growth in listings for over 15,000 job titles to identify the ones that increased the most in 2020 compared with 2019. The titles were then grouped into 15 major career areas.

  • Fulfillment/E-Commerce
  • Loans & Mortgages
  • Healthcare Support
  • Business Development/Sales
  • Workplace Diversity
  • Digital Marketing
  • Nursing
  • Education
  • Digital Content
  • Personal and Professional Coaching
  • Software
  • Mental Health
  • User Experience
  • Data Science
  • Artificial Intelligence

The data includes related job titles, outlook, earnings and likelihood of remote options.

CLICK HERE for summary article.

Click here for full report.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

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After January 6, 2020 Trauma: Grief and Love

“Today we acknowledge the shadows, but we lean into the light.” This quote by Carrie Newcomer from Saturday’s Daily Good newsletter spoke to me in the aftermath of the traumatic events of January 6. Regardless of political leanings, I think her article can be relevant to many. This article spoke to me about hope and on the balance of taking action at the societal and personal levels for healing.

A Speed of Soul Encouragement – Acknowledging Grief, Claiming Love, Remembering Radiance

Carrie Newcomer, Artist/Musician, originally posted in www.DailyGood.org, January 9, 2021


In the wake of January 6th many of us are wrestling with grief, dismay, anger, racial double standard and discouragement. So today I acknowledge what is hard as stone. Lets not candy coat anything. But let us also claim that there is a stronger force, a deeper truth and a wide and active community of good hearted, decent people. Let us remind one another of all the fine and honorable people in our own lives. Let us remind ourselves of how many people got up this morning and continue to make the world a kinder place, one day, one person, three feet around them.

Yesterday I wrote my legislators, and encourage others to claim agency and let their voices be hear. But I also encourage digging into what makes your life good. Howard Thurman wrote that “hope is the remembrance of radiance, the assurance that Light will be Light, even when walking in dark places.” I am gathering to myself that remembrance of radiance, the assurance that even in the aftermath of viewing the forces of shadow close up, goodness is still goodness, Light is still Light, and hope is still here and has not been hemmed in. I wrote my legislators, but I also texted a few dear friends to tell them I care, and to express that I am grateful for their presence in my life and in the world.

My encouragement today is to claim agency and to claim love. Text, zoom, call or somehow connect with someone who you think of as a treasure in your life, someone that illuminates your life, who reminds you of the power of love and the remembrance of radiance. Reach out and affirm what keeps saving us – goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gratitude, generosity, hospitality, justice and love…always love. Lay your hand on your heart and know that you also illuminate the lives of others around you. You are also doing what you can each day, in your own way, to make the world around you a kinder place.

Today we acknowledge the shadows, but we lean into the light.

More about Carrie Newcomer HERE

Image shown is free stock from Pexels by Anas Hinde