The blog 24/7 Wall St. recently posted a listing the metropolitan areas with the fastest growth of sustainable jobs. The ranking comes from a Brookings Institution study called “Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs Assessment,” which found that many American cities have been able to develop job growth through green projects. Brookings has also put together an interactive map
showing employment indicators in a range of “clean economy” jobs in metros across the county. The positions created by these initiatives almost always pay more than the local median wage, and they make many indirect contributions to local economies. Partnering with local businesses has been essential for local government leaders to help create green jobs in these communities. The top ten metro areas with the most rapid annual growth in green jobs from 2003-2010 are:
10. Albuquerque, NM: In addition to supporting businesses with green projects, the city has developed Albuquerque Green. Since 2003, this venture has been working to preserve and keep Albuquerque clean through a number of endeavors, including everything from sustainable water, green construction projects, alternative fleet fuels, increasing recycling, and reducing waste. The project has been growing and making a difference in the community for many years, and has plans to grow. Since last year the area’s unemployment rate has decreased by two and half percentage points.
9. Toledo, OH: Toledo’s employment has taken a big hit as its automotive companies have struggled. Facing a decreasing population and rising unemployment rates, the city council turned to green companies to help bolster growth in their city. Toledo Councilman Joe McNamara and Lucas County created the successful Green Partnership program to create jobs related to sustainability.
8. Tulsa, OK: In an effort to diversify their formerly oil- dependent economy, Tulsa has made great strides in environmentally focused job creation. The city has helped create 3,000 new jobs, and has taken on a redevelopment project to improve and make green Tulsa’s failing industrial areas. The most recent proposed effort, GreenPark, is expected to help improve northern Tulsa while also creating 2,000 more
Pixomar
Solar Thermal Power Station
jobs.
7. McAllen, Edinburg, and Mission, TX: This area continues to suffer from a high overall unemployment rate, but the high numbers of new the green jobs in the region has put it near the top of the list.
6. Ogden and Clearfield, UT: Green jobs have only recently started to take off in Ogden and Clearfield but they are growing quickly. As a result they have a lower overall unemployment rate than other parts of the country.
5. Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, NY: These three jurisdictions have been making big changes over many years. By 2010, 6.3% of all jobs in Albany were classified as green, which is the largest percentage of any metropolitan area in the United States. The combined efforts of the major employer GE and the government have made green job projects successful and wide spread.
John Kasawa
Gas and Fuel Plant
4. Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway, AR: Little Rock has become a hub of green manufacturers producing a number of new technologies, particularly electric vehicles. The area has also become a new home to wind power industries like LM Wind Power and Polymarin Composites. The Little Rock Sustainability Commission has been an important bridge between these growing businesses and the local government.
3. Des Moines and West Des Moines, IA: A lucky city to not have been hit as hard by the recession, Des Moines has been moving forward with green innovations. Local government has pushed many new green jobs, tested out a new waste reclamation system, and established the Des Moines Energy and Environmental Task Force. Overall, they have created 2,500 new environmentally friendly jobs in the past seven years.
2. Raleigh and Cary, NC: Job growth in this area has helped set Raleigh-Cary’s unemployment rate to just below 8%, lower than the overall state average. Being the state capital, most of the green jobs created are in the public sector; including positions in training, smart grids, pollution reduction, and green construction.
1. Knoxville, TN: In Knoxville 6,000 new green jobs have been created since 2003. Many of these positions come from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Other important projects in the area include solar installations which will help power the city.