Jobs Created by the Green Economy in the USA

Abstract

Green jobs are of intense interest in the USA but heretofore have not been rigorously estimated. While green jobs are desirable and are increasing rapidly, consistent time series estimates and forecasts of these jobs are not available. This has impeded research and policy development. We analyze the importance of green jobs and estimate the green jobs created by the USA economy 1970 – 2030 by industry, occupation, skill, and salaries. Here we show that: 1) jobs generated by the USA green economy have increased from 1% of total jobs in 1970 to 6% 2020, and are forecast to comprise 14% of jobs in 2030; 2) most persons in these jobs do not realize that they owe their livelihood to the green economy; 3) jobs generated by the green economy are at least 3 or 4 times larger than realized; 4) most green jobs are not attractive, well paid, or unionized; 5) advocates can be their own worst enemies by misrepresenting the reality of green jobs. The significance of green jobs is not appreciated and this has serious economic, environmental, and policy implications that must be remedied.