How to define a green job?

Many green job definitions have been published, including by the United States Bureau of Labor and Statisctics (US BLS), and the United Nations; these definitions are great and useful to the green industry, businesses and politicians, but they don't really help job seekers.

One of the main misconception about green jobs is to think that Green Jobs are essentially in energy production (solar, wind, geothermal, hydro-electric). But there are a lot more categories of green jobs than just energy production (read related story: Green jobs not just limited to energy sector).

Green jobs span a huge diversity of jobs in many types of green categories, and many types of occupations. To make it easier to understand and navigate, green jobs can be classified in a three-tier  category system. The top level categories of green jobs include:

• Green energy jobs in the research, product development and production of Renewable energy or Clean Energy, or Alternative Energy.  Second tier categories include Solar energy jobs, Wind energy jobs, geothermal energy jobs. 
• Green energy jobs in the transportation and distribution of green energy. Second tier categories include smart grid equipment, smart meters, new transmission technology to reduce the loss of electricity in high voltage lines.
• Green energy jobs in the storage of green energy. Second tier categories include batteries for EV's and hybrids, and fuel cells.
• Green energy jobs in energy efficiency and energy conservation.
• Green jobs in Green Building.  Second tier categories include new building materials, lighting (LED lighting is a big industry), building energy efficiency.  As in the green energy, third categories relate to the type of job, and the level of education needed.
• Green technology jobs in Clean technology and products other than energy and transportation.
• Green technology jobs in Clean Transportation. Second tier categories include electric/hybrid cars and trucks, battery technology (also in the energy storage category), clean fuel (biofuels), engine efficiency, new engine technologies,  and transportation infrastructure such networks of EV charging stations.
• Green environmental jobs in Environmental Sciences.  Second tier categories include air quality management, water treatment, pollution/contamination clean-up, and nature conservation.
• Green jobs in the study and remediation of climate change.
• Green jobs in Forestry, organic agriculture and food products.
• Green jobs in Corporate Sustainability.

Third tier categories relate to the type of occupation (manufacturing, finance, sales/marketing) and the level of education needed (technician, engineer, researcher with PhD). 

One of the main obstacles in landing a green job (that politicians are not considering enough) is training, education and certification. Many green jobs require the job applicant to obtain some kind of certification. Many training and education providers offer training classes to get these certifications. The most popular of these education programs and certifications include:

• LEED Certification
• Energy efficiency auditor
• Solar installation
• Wind Installation
• Higher education programs such as
  • Green MBA's
  • Sustainability Management