Green Jobs in Minnesota
Rachel Vilsack
Regional Labor Market Analyst
MN Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
St. Paul WorkForce Center
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
About DEED’s regional analysts
Collaborate with regional stakeholders on new research
Extend access to DEED reports and statistics
Conduct presentations and training on
the regional economy and labor market
Original research and analysis
Five regional analysts
stationed across the state
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
What’s green?
There is no national definition of green industries, or green jobs,
besides the general understanding that it is “environmentally friendly”
or “beneficial to the environment.”
According to the U.S. Dept of Labor:
“The green economy encompasses the economic activity related to reducing the
use of fossil fuels, decreasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,
increasing the efficiency of energy usage, recycling materials, and developing
and adopting renewable sources of energy.”
Many organizations define the green economy to include business
who produce renewable energy, produce green products, offer green
services, or are involved in environmental conservation.
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Examples of green industries
Utilities – solar, wind and hydroelectric power, energy storage, energy
transmission/distribution
Construction – home construction, industrial building, residential remodelers,
residential plumbing, HVAC, glass and glazing, roofing, siding, electrical, drywall,
insulation
Manufacturing – HVAC equipment manufacturing, glass manufacturing, paper
mills, electric lamp bulb and fixture manufacturing, household appliance
manufacturing, power distribution and transformer manufacturing, battery
manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, biofuels
Administrative and Waste Services - recycling, waste collection and remediation
Business and Professional Services – industrial design services, environmental
consulting services, architectural services, engineering services
Government – conservation and pollution prevention, cleanup/safety, monitoring
and compliance
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
So what’s a “green” job?
Like a color scale, jobs are more or less green.
Less Green
64 “increased demand” green occupations
More Green
60 “enhanced skills” green occupations
Most Green
91 “new and emerging” green occupations
Source: O*NET, “Greening of the World of Work,” June 2009.
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Green increased demand
occupations
Increase in employment due to impact of green economy activities
and technology.
Work context may change, but tasks do not.
Examples:
Electricians
Agriculture Inspectors
Materials Scientists
Team Assemblers
Customer Service Representatives
Forest and Conservation Technicians
Welders
Source: O*NET, “Greening of the World of Work,” June 2009.
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Green enhanced skills occupations
Impact of green economy significantly changes skills and
requirements of workers.
Basic purpose of job stays the same, but tasks, skills, knowledge,
credentials, etc., change.
Examples:
Civil Engineers
Construction Laborers
Landscape Architects
HVAC Mechanics and Installers
Automotive Specialty Technicians
Wholesale and Retail Buyers
Source: O*NET, “Greening of the World of Work,” June 2009.
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Green new and emerging
occupations
Impact of green economy activities and technology creates unique
work and requirements.
Creation of a new occupation, sometimes born from an existing
occupation.
Examples:
Air Quality Control Specialists
Industrial Ecologists
Biofuels Processing Technicians
Carbon Credit Traders
Energy Auditors
Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Solar Sales Representatives
Source: O*NET, “Greening of the World of Work,” June 2009.
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Gauging the “green” workforce
needs of Minnesota businesses
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Percent of total products or services
considered green by Minnesota
businesses
100%
Percent,
1%
50 to 99
Percent,
14%
Less than
50
Percent,
33%
Zero or
None,
53%
Source: MN Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Green practices of Minnesota
businesses
Minimize waste and energy in product distribution and end-use
Implement environmental corporate social responsibility into company
polices and decisions
Support low-impact employee transportation (carpooling, mass transit,
telecommuting)
Adopt pollution prevention best practices (e.g. reduce or eliminate pollution
at the source)
Select suppliers that provide environmentally superior materials, products,
and practices
Integrate green design approaches in facilities and sites
Source: MN Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Current Minnesota employees with green
skills
100 Percent
2%
50 to 99 Percent
1%
Less than 50
Percent
51%
100
Percent
3%
50 to 99
Percent
11%
Zero or None
46%
Less
than 50
Percent
45%
Percent of Current Employees with
Green Skills or Knowledge
Zero or
None
41%
Percent of Employees with Green
Skills or Knowledge in Two Years
Source: MN Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Green skills or knowledge needed
by Minnesota businesses
Percent of
Firms with
Current Needs
Percent of Firms
with Projected
Future Needs
49.8%
11.6%
34.0%
9.3%
32.6%
7.6%
31.1%
11.3%
28.7%
5.3%
22.7%
9.2%
General knowledge of the value and principles of
energy conservation
Identification of operational waste, including
waste minimization and managing hazardous
wastes
Knowledge of environmental policies or
regulation (e.g. firm-specific or government)
Management skills for implementing or
sustaining conservation practices or processes,
including facility assessment and energy auditing
Knowledge of innovative clean technologies and
processes
How to use green materials in the manufacturing
or construction process
Source: MN Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Barriers to implementing green practices
for Minnesota businesses
Percent
Cost of implementation
Shortage of workers currently having green
knowledge or skills
Government policies
Shortage of programs to train workers in green
production, processes or businesses
Not interested in implementing green practices or
production at this time
Shortage of workers with other (non-green related)
knowledge or skills
45.7%
19.6%
12.5%
11.1%
7.0%
5.6%
Source: MN Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Key observations
While green accounts for a large share of products or services for a
small share of firms, it is clear that a large number of firms either
currently perform or plan to perform green practices. Any company
can have green practices, even if they don’t sell a green product or
service.
Despite an economic recession, 20 percent of Minnesota businesses
cited a shortage of workers currently having green knowledge or
skills as a barrier to their implementation of green practices.
Employers plan to increase the number of workers with green skills in
the coming year. Some of this growth will be in businesses that
produce a green product or service, but respondents also valued
practices that could be applied to many types of industries, such as
energy conservation and waste reduction.
Analysis & Evaluation Office
Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development
Minnesota-produced Labor Market
Information is online at:
www.deed.state.mn.us
Rachel Vilsack
Regional Labor Market Analyst
St. Paul WorkForce Center
Phone: 651.642.0728
rachel.vilsack@state.mn.us
Analysis & Evaluation Office
For a copy of this presentation,
please visit:
http://rachelvilsack.com
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Communication, Analysis & Research Division
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development