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Green Jobs Outpace Overall California Job Market Recovery

<p>&nbsp;The most recent job growth data for California shows which regions are leading and lagging in green job growth.</p>

 The most recent figures on green job growth in California show that green jobs are outpacing the overall economy, with the Bay Area and San Diego regions in the lead.

The second edition of the Many Shades of Green report, published by California-focused research group Next 10, looks at how green jobs changed throughout the state from January 2008 to the start of 2009. While overall jobs grew less than 1 percent, green jobs grew by 3 percent.

The report, prepared by research and consulting firm Collaborative Economics, looks at data related to employment, business establishments, location and growth across different green industries in the state.

From 2008-2009, the Bay Area and San Diego regions were the leaders among 11 regions in the state with green job growth rates of 8 and 7 percent respectively.

The Bay Area has also been the leader in green jobs since 1995, with a growth of 109 percent over that period. Sacramento takes second place with a 103 percent growth in green jobs over those 14 years.

Energy generation has been the leading growth industry in California, adding 20,000 jobs since 1995, 3,000 of which were created during 2008.

According to a survey of 15,200 employers by the state's Employment Development Department, more than 263,000 employees spend half their time on producing green products and services while an additional 170,000 spend at least some time on green activities.

The "core green economy," which Next 10 refers to as businesses that provide products and services that are alternatives to carbon-based energy, conserve energy, conserve natural resources, reduce pollution and repurpose waste, accounts for 174,000 jobs in California.

The remainder fall under the "adaptive green economy," which covers businesses founded on principles of sustainability or businesses transitioning processes, products and supply chains to be more sustainable or environmentally-friendly.

Windmills in California - CC license by Flickr user doug_wertman

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