Growing new jobs in a greener world
Even in the midst of this recession, research indicates that clean-energy jobs are poised for significant growth. In fact, according to a recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts, employment opportunities in Oregon's clean-energy economy increased at a rate of 50.7 percent, while total jobs grew by only 7.5 percent overall between 1998 and 2007.
People across the country are struggling to find and keep jobs because of what many have deemed the worst economy since the Great Depression. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the statewide unemployment rate for October in Oregon was 11.2 percent. And while that's a slight improvement over September, more than 218,000 Oregonians were still unemployed in October -- roughly 75,000 more than a year ago.
