But what exactly is a "green job"? If you asked that question of the average person on the street, you might get answers like "environmentalist," "windmill-farm worker," or "tree hugger." (You might even get a blank look.) But in the dawn of the 21st century's second decade, "green jobs" won't just be for people working in solar power or raising money for Greenpeace. In fact, a lot of "green jobs" will be available at companies like Wal-Mart.
And not just Wal-Mart, either. Companies large and small are embracing the concept of environmental sustainability and making it a key component of their bottom lines--and the resulting "green" jobs won't be far behind.
"I believe that jobs tied directly to environmental issues are going to be one of the two or three fastest-growing employment fields in the immediate future," says Hinrich Eylers, Ph.D., P.E., Dean of Natural Sciences at University of Phoenix. "A lot of big companies, including Wal-Mart, have recently appointed Vice Presidents or Directors of Environmental Sustainability, and that focus on sustainability in industry is eventually going to trickle down into lots of jobs."
Major corporations like Wal-Mart are taking their cues from recent federal legislation offering funds and tax breaks to encourage the development of green jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced it was issuing more than $55 million in green jobs grants as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants go toward training, infrastructure, and agricultural development aimed at developing "green" industries and a greener workforce.2 Indeed, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains a grand total of $80 billion in funds earmarked toward green jobs and green industry in one way or another, which a recent U.S. Senate report predicts will eventually translate into between 500,000 and 1.7 million new jobs.3
What exactly is a "green job" anyway? The U.S. Department of Labor gives the following definition: Green jobs and careers involve new and better ways of conducting work activities that benefit the environment, such as through reductions in waste and pollution and excessive energy use.4
Sustainability is a new business term that encapsulates concepts like "reductions in waste and pollution and excessive energy use."5 Major corporations like Wal-Mart are discovering that reducing pollution, waste, and energy use isn't just good for the environment--it also makes good business sense.
Wal-Mart's new "green" initiative is rooted in creating real market demand for environmental sustainability through pricing and profitability. For example, Wal-Mart is doing everything from using natural lighting in its U.S. storage and distribution warehouses as a cost-cutting measure to contracting with Chinese solar-power companies to help reduce energy usage in their Chinese product suppliers' factories. By demanding that their product suppliers keep costs down, and in turn encouraging them to embrace the concept of waste and energy reduction as part of cost-cutting strategies, Wal-Mart is building sustainability directly into its profit margins.6 Green Degree Programs On The Rise
As major corporations search for business solutions that integrate environmental issues and profitability, MBA programs are following suit and incorporating sustainability concepts into their course curricula. For example, Babson College recently established a Sustainable Entrepreneurship by Nature concentration in its MBA program, while the University of North Carolina's MBA program includes special programs offered in the school's Center for Sustainable Enterprise. Even the highly prestigious Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College is incorporating sustainability concepts into its general MBA coursework.7
University of Phoenix is following suit. "It has always been extremely important for University of Phoenix to make its campuses green, going all the way back to the early days of University founder Dr. John Sperling who helped students bury a new car during a "Survival Faire" celebration on Earth Day 1970 as a means of dramatizing the environmental crisis," says Dr. Eylers. "And our environmental sciences courses can provide a strong basis for pursuing green careers."
Currently, University of Phoenix offers several degree programs that can help prepare students for "green" jobs. For example, the University currently offers a bachelor's degree program in Environmental Science. In addition, the University's bachelor's degree program in business includes a concentration in Green and Sustainable Enterprise Management, while its MBA program includes an Energy Management concentration. Degree programs and coursework in the natural sciences, such as chemistry, geology, biology, and physics, can also help prepare students for the future green workforce, according to Dr. Eylers. Lastly, University of Phoenix's Continuing Education program has developed a number of courses aimed at helping working professionals manage and implement green practices at their companies. Job and Salary Outlook for Green Careers Is Bright
In addition to sustainability roles at corporations, what other kinds of jobs and salaries can prospective green workers expect in the coming years?
The job outlook for environmental scientists and engineers appears strong. These two large disciplines include opportunities for conservation scientists, environmental engineers, hydrologists, statisticians, biologists, geographers, and geologists. As of May 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that nearly 250,000 jobs are available across all these disciplines, with median salaries hovering around $60,000 annually, with hydrologists earning the most (around $75,000 annually). The BLS also projected that the vast majority of these positions are in state or federal government agencies, though there are also some opportunities in the private sector.8
Just as more and more individuals are incorporating "green" ideals into their daily lives via recycling and reduced energy consumption, so are businesses. While "green" jobs may be the hottest new thing at the moment, in another ten years or so, every job might be a "green" job.
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and educational aspirations without putting their lives on hold. University of Phoenix is the largest private accredited university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.
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