[The Vector] — Clean Energy Jobs – Continued

…continued from earlier

Shifts Within the Industry

Pew’s researchers say that because scientific research, public policy, market forces, the economic recovery and new technology drive innovation and competition, leading sectors in today’s clean energy economy may not be so tomorrow.

The researchers for the Pew report broke the clean energy economy into five broad categories:

1)     Clean Energy (such as those directly working in solar or wind, like plant operators, installers, manufacturers, and technicians.)

2)     Energy Efficiency (such as Leed certified professionals.)

3)     Environmentally Friendly Production (such as electric car makers)

4)     Conservation and Pollution Mitigation (such as recycling or water treatment)

5)     Training and Support

Data revealed that 65% of today’s clean energy jobs are in Conservation and Pollution Mitigation, but three other categories are growing much faster – Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency and Environmentally Friendly Production. In fact, 80% of VC investments went to Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency sectors in 2008. The chart below, courtesy Pew Charitable Trusts, illustrates this.

Courtesy Pew Charitable Trusts

Why is this important? The venture capital investments indicate where investor interest is, what seems more attractive to them and which areas are perceived to have the most growth potential.Jobs Where are jobs in clean tech and what is needed to seriously move forward the industry?

Workers at all levels and all walks of life and education make up the clean energy economy. Whether plumbers, electricians, bankers or engineers, the Pew report clearly shows a wide diversity contributes to the industry. The chart below desplays where the the jobs were in 2007.

… to be continued