State should focus more on creating green jobs

From Pacific Business News

Reducing our carbon footprint versus creating green jobs — the state is focusing too much on the former and not enough on the latter, according to officials at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

An extensive new report detailing the state’s green work force hopes to provide a baseline for discussions on where the jobs are being created, what training is needed to fill positions and what needs to be happening at the policy level. Millions of dollars in federal stimulus money is being funneled through the state, but discussions about the effects it is having on economic recovery and reducing the unemployment rate have been lacking.

“ARRA was passed primarily to simulate the economy,” said Jeffrey Matsu, the lead researcher for the study. “They were thinking jobs, not the carbon footprint — not that I’m trying to minimize the [importance of reducing our] carbon footprint.”

The “green” jobs sector in Hawaii is expected to grow 26 percent to 14,000 jobs during the next two years, according to the report. Green jobs refer to those related to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

While all counties are anticipating growth, Oahu projected the largest number of new jobs, at 1,900, and the Big Island has the highest projected growth rate, at 42 percent. The report also found that 670 of the jobs are currently available. Approximately three-quarters of the vacancies exist within three main sectors: construction, agriculture and professional services.

Local community colleges and trade schools fulfill 62 percent of the training needed for the “green” jobs sector, according to the report. Supported by a $1.2 million competitive stimulus grant, the report was designed to help guide strategic decision-making in areas of investment, education and work force development.