Study: Green Economy Lost Fewer Jobs in U.S. Recession
The green economy lost fewer jobs than did the overall economy during the height of the United States' recent recession, finds a study out today on California's experiences.The state's overall economy lost 7% of jobs from January 2009 to January 2010 while its "core green economy" lost 3%, according to the study released by San Francisco-based Next 10, a non-partisan research group focused on innovation. The time period did not cover the collapse of California-based solar manufacturer Solyndra, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2011 after receiving a half-billion federal loan guarantee.
Longer term, from 1995-2010, the study found that job growth in the wider economy grew 12% but jumped 53% in businesses devoted to clean energy, recycling, reusing materials, conserving natural resources and reducing pollution.
"Growing the diverse sectors within the state's clean economy improves California's overall economic resilience," said Tracey Grose of Collaborative Economics, a San Mateo, Calif.-based economic research and consulting firm that prepared the report for Next 10. The "2012 Many Shades of Green: California's Shift to a Cleaner, More Productive Economy" report also finds:
- The San Diego region, the Bay Area and the Sacramento area showed the greatest job resilience. Each lost less than 2% of jobs from January 2009 to January 2010.
Read more: USA TODAY Study: Green economy lost fewer jobs in US recession