# Green Job Opportunities: In a Tough Job Market Consider Jobs Focused On Sustainability & Green Living

**By Steve Stillwater** · 2011-08-10

The job market is scary. The unemployment rate is currently more than 9%, and new job creation is sluggish at best. Good-paying jobs are not readily available. If you are out of work, it is common to look for many months before landing a job, even one that is not particularly to your liking. One sector of the economy is offering job opportunities right now – the green sector. Businesses in alternative energy and companies focused on improving efficiency in energy use and promoting more environmentally- friendly practices are all growing employment. Why? Consumers and businesses alike see the economic and environmental benefits of greener practices. If you are interested in finding a job in the green sector, here are 10 areas where positions are likely to be most plentiful. **1\. Agricultural Inspector:** Food products must be inspected to make sure organic products really are organic. **2\. Architect (Environmental / Sustainable Design):** We are seeing more demand for LEED buildings, both new and retrofits, and there is a need for people who can design them. **3\. Bicycle / Scooter Technicians:** As more people avoid driving cars to save gas, these modes of transportation are growing. **4\. Green Career Consultants:** Helping people find those green job opportunities is also a business. **5\. Building Operations Management:** Improving the energy and water efficiency of businesses saves money, and adopting green practices is also good public relations. **6\. Emissions Trader:** Assuming a price is set on carbon emissions and a cap and trade mechanism is put in place, savvy traders will see opportunities here. **7\. Landscape Architect:** Demand is increasing as people look for ways to limit water usage, yet maintain a garden-like appearance. **8\. Environmental Chemist:** Analytical skills will be in high demand. **9\. Engineer/Biologist for renewable fuels development:** A lot of research and development is still needed to make biofuels commercially viable. **10\. Green Travel and Hospitality:** More and more people are looking to take green vacations and hotels are developing more environmentally friendly practices and need employees to implement them. Even in a very difficult job market, there are opportunities. I suggest the green sector as one of the most promising over the next few years.

**Tags:** Category_Green Living, green building, green jobs, green travel

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> Source: [Village Green Apothecary](myvillagegreen.com/blogs/post/green-job-opportunities-in-a-tough-job-market-consider-jobs-focused-on-sustainability-green-living)