Recession lay-offs have been in the news this past year. But according to a 2008 study conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme, the global environmental goods and services sector is expected to become a $2.7 billion market by 2020. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the construction industry alone must employ roughly 250,000 workers annually to meet the increasing demand for sustainable initiatives, such as retrofitting and weatherization. Other industries are following the green initiative across all company ranks, from management down to entry-level positions.
Green collar jobs are slowly becoming the norm. Green collar jobs aren’t anymore restricted to specialized fields such as the alternative energy sector. These days, jobs and businesses are being restructured to meet ever-increasing sustainability standards. Demand for workers with expertise in sustainable development will spike in the coming years.
Anyone contemplating on what online degrees or career training programs to enroll in may want to consider programs related to sustainable development to enhance job sustainability.
Ways to learn the “green trade”
There are many options to advance your knowledge and skills for sustainable practices. One of the common ways is to take up a bachelor’s program in green and sustainable enterprise management like the one offered by the University of Phoenix. This course is offered online and provides flexible schedules. It’s perfect for those with full-time jobs. A growing number of schools offer similar bachelor’s degrees.
Another path is to take a Master’s degree specializing on sustainable development. Green MBA’s will instruct students on how to apply sustainable techniques in their current field of expertise. This will increase efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint.
Some may contend that bachelor’s and master’s online degrees could be quite expensive and time-consuming. But for those who with limited budgets, there are certification programs in sustainability leadership that can be completed in a year or less.
Preparing for the future
There is no doubt that the green movement is already taking place. Learning the green trades as early as now can help you prepare for the future demands of the workplace.
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