Top 5 Green Careers for 2009

by ECO Canada

Charged with an unrelenting desire to truly make a difference in this battle against worldwide environmental degradation, this growing army of green professionals will be our stewards for a cleaner earth.

The continued growth in worldwide environmental consciousness also means a continued growth in prosperous new work opportunities. As forecasts of employment growth in the environmental sector double the national average in the next two years, environmental professions have become the hottest career opportunities for anyone from new graduates to seasoned veterans in other industries. Growing demand for workers, higher than average salaries, employer dedication to professional development, the aging workforce, and the opportunity to positively contribute to the environment in exciting ways are all emerging factors that are creating lucrative and engaging career possibilities in the environmental sector.

Operating Canada’s largest environmental job board, ECO Canada is the leading authority on environmental human resources. According to ECO Canada, the five hottest green careers in the country today are:

• Environmental Engineer "The Green Designer"

Environmental engineers plan, design and supervise industrial components and processes, and are also often involved in regulatory procedures when reviewing facilities to ensure they are complying with environmental policies and guidelines. Many environmental engineers choose to specialize in a specific area, such as air or water quality or solid and hazardous waste management and may be found working in a number of industries, including pulp and paper, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

This career might be for you if you excel at: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Calculus, Biology
This career might have transferability from: Engineering

•  Environmental Technologist/Technician "The Green Performer"

Environmental technologists/technicians work on a variety of projects to assess, clean up and protect the environment. They require broad scientific knowledge and technical skills and get involved in projects such as collecting and analyzing air, water, and soil samples; conducting field inspections and investigations of contamination; operating and monitoring pollution control and  treatment equipment; monitoring compliance with federal and provincial regulations; or participating in environmental assessments and cleanup efforts.

This career might be for you if you excel at: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Calculus, Computer Science
This career might have transferability from: All Sciences, Engineering Technology, Lab Technician

•  Conservation Biologist "The Green Protector"

Conservation biologists focus on how to protect and restore biodiversity as well as understand and minimize human impacts on the natural world. They utilize planning and sustainable management practices to prevent species extinction and repair damage to ecosystems.

This career might be for you if you excel at: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, Computer Science
This career might have transferability from: Zoology, Geology, Geography, Anthropology, Forestry

• Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst "The Green Tracker"

GIS analysts use digital mapping techniques that link computer-generated maps with various databases. They work to integrate biophysical, ecological, and socio-economic data that can be analyzed for purposes such as tracking wildlife, mapping erosion, monitoring air and water quality, or measuring logging rates.

This career might be for you if you excel at: Geography, Art, Computer Science, Physics
This career might have transferability from: Geography, Computer Science, Information Technology

• Environmental Communications Officer "The Green Ambassador"

Environmental communications officers disseminate information on environmental issues and coordinate and execute environmental events on behalf of their organizations. They can be involved in long-term projects, such as public information and education campaigns, as well as short-term projects, such as responding to a toxic spill. Environmental communications officers use their skills in writing, design, media relations, and networking to educate the public and encourage environmental protection and conservation.

This career might be for you if you excel at: English, Writing, Communications, Social Studies
This career might have transferability from: Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Sociology, Political Science, Education

     According to the preliminary findings of ECO Canada’s 2008 Employment Labour Market Study, 65% of environmental employers in Canada were hiring for environmental positions in the past year.  By experience level, half of organizations had vacancies for entry-level positions, 44% had vacancies for junior positions, and 27% had openings for senior-level candidates. Economic and regulatory indicators point to those statistics climbing even higher, as 68% of green firms confirmed that they plan to expand their operations within the next two years.

Adding to the allure of ‘green-collar’ professions is the fact that the current environmental workforce is older than the overall Canadian workforce. More than 50% of employees in management positions are 45 years of age or older. This means that there are likely to be fast-tracked management opportunities and strong employer incentives due to this anticipated wave of retirement.

Relentless industry growth requires a more proactive approach to human resources management and employers are encouraging students to consider specific fields of study which they believe will be in high demand in the coming years. One third of companies identified ‘water quality’ as one such subsector with concern for future need, followed closely by ‘waste management’, ‘land quality’, and ‘restoration and reclamation’. Professional, scientific & technical positions in the environmental field will continue to provide the most sought-after industry services, with an anticipated 4.5% increase in these green jobs by 2010, as compared to the projected increase in the national average of 2.3%.

Charged with an unrelenting desire to truly make a difference in this battle against worldwide environmental degradation, this growing army of green professionals will be our stewards for a cleaner earth. Those with a vision and undying effort will be thrust into leadership positions and charged with the responsibility of correcting past mistakes and improving the practices of the rest of the planet – and they will make a healthy salary along the way.

For more information on green careers, visit www.eco.ca . To learn about certificate programs in environmental education, visit the Canadian Center for Environmental Education at www.ccee.ca.