Green Jobs Training Needed by Many Industries
When you think about the Administration’s push for alternative fuel sources and more energy efficiency, you have to consider how many industries are going to find the need for green jobs training for the existing workforce, in addition to the need for new recruits.
Take the automobile industry, where they either produce energy efficient vehicles that offer alternative fuel sources, or face bankruptcy proceedings until they can comply. There is more to producing alternative fuel vehicles or electric powered vehicles than first meets the eye.
Not only have you got the need for the researchers and engineers that have green jobs training in these fields, but the vehicles they produce will mean learning different mechanical repairs than most automobile repair shops are prepared to handle. Does your auto mechanic know about fuel cells? What about the battery backup systems on electric cars? What is hydrogen fuel and where can you buy it? These are considerations that most people don’t think about.
What about “green” building and construction techniques? What kind of green jobs training programs will be required to construct the totally “green” home of tomorrow? Will they need experts trained in solar panel installation, wind turbine generators and solar water heater repairs?
Take the case of wind turbines. Many of the innovative homeowners that have made their own home wind turbines have gathered parts to make a home generator that can power a few electrical appliances. What about the future of commercial wind turbines that find they need a repairman to keep a manufacturing plant with power? What kind of wind turbine technicians will be needed for selecting the sites for future wind turbines?
Of course, there are many other green collar jobs that are not as technical, but will still require specialized training. Interior designers of buildings that are striving for a “green” designation will need to know what building materials comply with requirements. Architects will need to consider building placement and features to take advantage of natural light and solar heating systems. Mechanical technicians will need to know how to work on a system that is not the traditional mechanical construction.
The list goes on and on. The estimates are that there will be 5 million jobs in the green job sector in the next few years. When you consider existing jobs that will change, the number may seem overwhelming, when it comes to the number of people that will require training to stay competitive.
For the companies that will need these trained specialists, the task may seem more overwhelming. The persons that have the necessary certifications and degrees will be in high demand and many of those positions may go unfulfilled, since the number of trained candidates is limited.
The government has funded $500 million for education in the green jobs sector yet, some of that money is still left unused. Some states are aggressively marketing the green collar jobs to all ages, including elementary students, since this appears to be the jobs of the future. Green jobs training will ensure a higher paying job in a growing job market that will offer job stability for many years to come.
Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Alternative Energy Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.
