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The green job industry is set to be one of the fastest growing job sectors in the coming years as more and more people demand environmentally friendly products and services.

Today, most of the green jobs that exist are for professionals and the employees of big business.

These industries and businesses recognize that consumers want the same products and services they're getting now to be produced and delivered in a more environmentally way. For instance, many consumer electronics producers make the same product but using recycled materials or more environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques to satisfy consumer demand.

The future of green jobs

The many green jobs that will be coming in the future, however, are the kinds of jobs that most people would consider green jobs.

Environmentally sustainable farmers, builders and architects who specialize in building and renovating with green techniques and materials, and trades workers who specialize in alternative energy technologies are all professions that will be in high demand.

This is not to say that these jobs don't exist now, but the demand is set to increase a great deal as the political will to deal with environmental problems becomes more pronounced.

According to one study, the current number of 8.5 million U.S. jobs in the clean energy and energy-efficiency industries could grow to as many as 40 million by 2030.

also see in Careers: How to Start a Career in Nature Conservation

Along with careers in ecotourism, the vast majority of greens jobs of the future will center on the installation of various green technologies. There are thousands and thousands of solar panels, waste water recycling systems, and energy efficient renovations that will need to be installed, both on old homes and on newly built homes.

In addition, the very nature of green jobs is that they are local and difficult to outsource, with an opportunity for traditionally trained construction works, electricians, and builders to retrofit their careers to meet the growing demand for green collar workers now and in the decades to come.

More information about green jobs around the Web:

What Is a Green-Collar Job, Exactly? - TIME Magazine feature with a current overview and future outlook, a definition of what it means to be a green collar worker and how it differs from traditional blue and white-collar careers.

Green Jobs 101 - Excellent overview of the growing job sector as careers are repurposed to fill the needs of the green economy including related reports, slideshows and video.

Environmental Jobs Directory - Major portal featuring dozens of resources leading to information on green jobs and environmental careers, with industry overviews and online job postings in the US and UK, including internships and volunteer opportunities.

Work Cabin.ca - Environmental Jobs - Boasting Canada's largest clearinghouse of information on green jobs nationwide, featuring current job listings, resume posting, employer profiles, related news and career advice.

Environment Jobs UK - Find green jobs throughout the UK and worldwide in this extensive directory of companies offering jobs and career services in related environmental job sectors.

also see -> Green Cities | Recession Proof Jobs