A report by the U.S. Green Building Council anticipates that by 2013, green industries — which include construction, trades, utilities and transportation — will support nearly 8 million jobs.
A free class open to people over age 50 who are interested in green or environmentally conscious careers will be offered March 2-27 and April 20-May 15 through the Community Colleges of Spokane Institute for Extended Learning Plus 50/Rewired program.
The class, “Greening Your Future,” explores sustainable career options and looks at ways of expanding an existing set of job skills. The course is a part of a program called Plus 50/Re-wired, designed to help older workers re-think retirement with a new career.
The course, taught by Jim Wavada, environmental planner, Washington State Department of Ecology, aims to impart and understanding of sustainability in practical terms of where the economy is going, where the job opportunities are going to be, and how people can put together a career plan for the 'green' market'.
“We're giving people the ability to 'talk the talk' when they go to an employer as well as how to apply the sustainability model to their existing business or one that they might want to start,” says Wavada says.
According to a study released today by online jobs site CareerBuilder.com, more than 10% of employers will add green jobs in 2010. You won't necessarily need a science degree to land a green job. Environmental companies will need secretaries, administrators familiar with sustainability issues and construction companies will need workers to install energy-efficient lighting, windows, insulation and heating and air-conditioning systems.
Recently, tax incentives have persuaded more employers to hire energy auditors. There is a also a growing need for independent home-based energy auditors. An energy auditor can expect to make on average $30-$60 thousand a year.
“There is a growing market (for green jobs),” says Wavada. “Ppeople will walk out of the class with an understanding of how to get green credentials for whatever project they want to do.”
For more information on registering for the class, contact Yvette Dunlap, program coordinator, (509) 279- 6248.
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