A few generations ago it seemed like the world’s resources were infinite, and people needed only to access them to create businesses and grow humanity – but things have changed…

We are all familiar with Blue and White collar job sectors, but now a third sector has emerged and is growing by leaps and bounds - The Green Collar Job Sector.

Green jobs or green-collared jobs are, according to the United Nations Environment Program, work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has developed this definition of green jobs for use in data collection. According to the BLS - Green jobs are either:

1. Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources.
2. Jobs in which workers' duties involve making their establishment's production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources.

According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency there are 10.3 million renewable energy jobs globally – a 5.3 % increase since 2017.  This industry is reported to grow to as much as 40 million jobs by 2030. 

Here are a few standout green companies that deserve accolades:

1. IKEA
2. Unilever
3. Panasonic
4. Allergan
5. Seventh Generation
6. Patagonia
7. IBM
8. New Belgium Brewing
9. Adobe
10. Nike

Green collar jobs have been defined as work force opportunities created by firms and organizations whose mission is to improve environmental quality, sustainability, and involve products and services that are environmentally friendly.

If you want your work to be green, you’ll find all kinds of green jobs available, from renewable energy jobs to green building jobs, organic industry jobs, policy, planning and scientific jobs that restore our natural resources.  This job sector includes opportunities that involve the design, manufacture, installation, operation, and/or maintenance of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Moving away from environmentally unfriendly work and towards environmentally friendly work will bring significant changes and benefits to workers, communities, and society as a whole. If more cities and organizations begin to incorporate environmental concerns into their mission and goals, the potential for green collar jobs over the next decade is limitless.

Green collar jobs are also becoming more and more attractive to applicants who see the opportunity to bringing about positive change in the world. The satisfaction of making a positive difference in the world is in many cases enough of a bonus for this environmentally conscious group.

Here is a link to The Most Sustainable Company in Every State