Education Characteristics of Green Vacancies

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Degrees in engineering (chemical, mechanical, civil or environmental), chemistry, environmental science, and vocational training in HVAC repair and maintenance were among the credentials preferred by employers.

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are foundational areas of study and expertise for green jobs, not only because STEM occupations are relatively more likely to be impacted by greening trends[1], but because green jobs overall tend to require a higher degree of technical and quantitative skill.

Green jobs in Minnesota also require slightly more experience than the overall population of vacancies. Areas where employers were looking for work-related experience included project management, HVAC and refrigeration, EHS (management of the environmental health and safety functions), product development, and product commercialization.

Eleven percent of green vacancies required a license. The types of licenses most commonly required included commercial driver's license, professional engineer license, and boiler operator license. Fifteen percent of green vacancies required a certification including wastewater operator certification, CFC[2] refrigerant transition and recovery certification, NATE (North American Technician Excellence) HVACR certification, OSHA hazardous materials training certification, EIT (engineer In training) certification, and project management professional (PMP) certification.

[1] Almost one-third of green vacancies were in STEM occupations.
[2] HVAC technicians need to take chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant recycling training to limit release of ozone-depleting substances. The course is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency according to the requirements of Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.