Green Vacancies by Region

Read the summary below or download the entire Chapter Three from the printed report.

Green job vacancies were fairly equally distributed between the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and Greater Minnesota. The pie chart below shows the number of green vacancies by planning region.   

As a percent of total vacancies, central, southwest and northeast Minnesota have the greatest concentration of green vacancies. The breakouts below illustrate each region's green activities.

Twin Cities
Remediation and environmental services firms are concentrated here, as well as mass transit planning authorities and major recycling operations, all classified in pollution prevention. Energy efficiency was the second most in-demand area, driven by the high concentration of buildings (new and existing) and architectural firms.

Research and development, environmental consulting, IT, environmental advocacy organizations, academic research institutions, and administration of government programs regarding air, water, and waste are uniquely located in the Twin Cities. Moreover, linkages between metro and Greater Minnesota markets include software companies that are developing and selling “smart grid” and other IT solutions for energy efficiency to utilities located in rural areas of the state and green construction services with supply chain relationships to Greater Minnesota.

Central Minnesota
Construction and manufacturing in this region contribute to energy efficiency. The region also generated openings in renewable energy, especially geothermal.

Southwest Minnesota
This region leads the state in renewable energy and alternative fuels with wind turbines and the local ethanol industry.

Northeast Minnesota
Government-regulated industries like mining and utilities helped to make this region stand out in the environmental compliance category of green activities. Other green sectors like pollution prevention and natural resource conservation were also well represented, driven by the need to protect the region’s abundant natural resources.

Northwest Minnesota
The region’s main contribution came from natural resource conservation, primarily represented by forest service jobs. Water treatment and conservation activities were also concentrated in this region.

Southeast Minnesota
Manufacturers of energy-efficient products are concentrated here. The region also hosts organic farms that contribute to natural resource conservation.