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Green Collar Jobs

GREEN-COLLAR JOBS ARE BLUE-COLLAR JOBS THAT HELP PROTECT THE PLANET.  THEY ALSO SHOW PROMISE FOR REDUCING POVERTY, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

GREEN BUSINESSES ARE POISED FOR GROWTH, SO THEY NEED MORE WORKERS WHO CAN INSTALL SOLAR PANELS, BUILD WIND FARMS, AND PERFORM OTHER MANUAL LABOR TASKS.

RAQUEL PINDERHUGHES, PROFESSOR OF URBAN STUDIES AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY, SAYS THESE JOBS MAY BE A GOOD FIT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING EMPLOYMENT.

PINDERHUGHES: ONE OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF ENTRY-LEVEL MANUAL LABOR JOBS IN THE GREEN ECONOMY IS THAT THEY’RE RELATIVELY EASY TO TRAIN PEOPLE FOR.

BEST OF ALL, PINDERHUGHES SAYS MOST GREEN-COLLAR JOBS PAY A LIVING WAGE AND OFFER BENEFITS.  SO BY PROMOTING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH EMPLOYMENT OBSTACLES AND PROVIDING JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS, SHE BELIEVES WE CAN HELP ADDRESS BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND POVERTY.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Click here to download a copy of Pinderhughes’ report.

Learn more about green jobs from Green For All and the Apollo Alliance.

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