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Educational Requirements for Green Jobseekers

For those who are thinking of making the job transition into the green industry, questions about prerequisites for these new careers are buzzing. One of which is a question that should be asked before applying for any job: What are the educational requirements?

In recent research conducted on this topic, the data showed that practically seventy percent of all available green jobs required some education or training beyond just a high school diploma, which contrasts with the economy-wide data indicating that a minimal 40.9% needed education past high school. As a matter of fact, a bachelor's degree is the usual or average requirement for these vacancies in this blossoming industry. Although there are jobs that require no skill (18%) or no previous knowledge (10%), the vacancies are a very small amount.

With all this talk about skills, what skills are the most required in current job vacancies? Well, the leading percentage is given to technical skills ranging from foundational to more difficult and heightened. The data shows that 70% of current job vacancies require some kind of technical skill to keep up with the contemporary tools and technology used to further aid the growth of the green industry. The second largest in demand skill is mathematics, which also ranges from foundational to advanced, with a total of 60%.

The most common credential found in these green collared jobs are LEED Associated Professional (AP) and Certified Energy Manager. These credentials are extremely attractive on resumes for employers due to the fact that those who hold them are proven to be able to continually improve upon the sustainability of facilities and such. Earning these credentials requires taking a series of tests and meeting other qualifications and overall is a lot of work, but in the long run is an extremely beneficial asset to have.

All in all, most workers in the expanding green industry with higher wages usually have previous skills or knowledge. This is because they must stay up to date and continually gain knowledge on the always changing technology that is the basis of the green economy. This technology continually gets more complex and harder to understand without previous experience as it advances to help the industry grow as a whole.

If you have no previous experience or knowledge in the green industry field, opportunities may be bleak, but there are still jobs that you can most definitely find in the industry currently. By obtaining a job that you can complete with previous knowledge such as accounting or management, you can then seek to earn a LEED credential or some other green credential to broaden your career opportunities. However, if you hold any of the above qualifications, your skills will be important and attractive assets in your job search.

Alternative Energy Degree Resources

*Renewable Energy
*The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower (Mother Earth News Wiser Living)
*Sustainable Energy: Choosing Among Options

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