Demand for Minnesota "green" workers reached 2.5 percent of all job openings as of June 2011, according to a recently released two-year study funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of Obama's jobs recovery act.
Among the study's key findings on green job-openings:
* There were 3,882 openings between fourth quarter 2009 and June 2011
* 263 mostly private companies offered environmental, energy conservation and other green jobs across the state.
* largest number of job offerings were found in energy-efficiency improvements, pollution controls, recycling, conservation, wind energy, biofuel and waste energy, battery storage and the geothermal and solar sectors.
* Job openings touched 150 occupations, including installation, maintenance, repair, architecture, engineering, construction and management jobs.
* Half of the openings were in the Twin Cities
* 89 percent were full-time positions
* Green jobs demanded higher education
* Green jobs paid more than other jobs ($16 to $39 an hour vs $15 to $37)
For the full report, go to www.tinyurl.com/greenjobsstudy.