WASHINGTON, DC — When it comes to government data, late is not only better than never, it's often the only timeline on offer.

That fact is highlighted in a report released just before Earth Day (and promptly buried in the avalanche of green news) that aims to mark a starting point for measuring the growth of the green economy.

The report, released by the Commerce Department's Economics and Statistics Administration, finds that green jobs represented 2 percent or less of the economy -- back in 2007, the most recent point for which data was available.

In economic and environmental terms, 2007 was a lifetime ago -- it predated the worst effects of the Great Recession and obviously the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that aimed to grow a green economy on the ashes of the old one.

But again, in terms of government data, it's a start, and the only place to start. And it almost certainly promises to paint a brighter picture of the green economy going forward. The report uses a range to estimate the number of green jobs and their economic impacts, based on "a narrow definition of products and services over which there would likely be little debate about their classification as green," and a broader one that "includes products and services whose classification as green is more open to debate."

Among the other findings of the report:

• The number of green jobs ranged from 1.8 million jobs under the narrow definition to 2.4 million jobs under the broad definition.

• The services sector accounted for roughly three-fourths of green business activity; manufacturing accounted for about 13%. Construction and agriculture made up the remaining share.

• Energy conservation, resource conservation and pollution control accounted for the predominant share of green business activities, making up about 80% to 90% of green shipments/receipts and employment.

• Between 2002 and 2007, the share of green shipments and green jobs in manufacturing remained fairly constant, ranging between 0.9% and 1.3%. Green manufacturing jobs fell over this period as did jobs in all manufacturing.

The full report is available for download from GreenBiz.com, and for more on the Stimulus Act, green jobs and the growth of the green economy, check out our Stimulus Plan coverage.