Even with the job front in a startling downward spiral, it seems there may be one place that jobs are actually expected to rise. It seems that with the new administration in the White House, green jobs are expected to soar over the next few years.

The expected increase in green jobs is likely to come from the exploration of new energy sources, as President Obama has promised to explore in his presidential term. In fact, he has promised $150 billion over the next ten years to obtain a ‘new energy economy’. Other energy sources that are predicted to be tapped into over the next few years include solar, wind, photovoltaic, and biodiesel, among others. Along with the exploration of these new and renewable energy sources, are expected millions of potential jobs for Americans. (Obama promises 5 million over the next ten years.)

Many believe that these so called “green jobs” are already in existence, and we have only now had a technical name for them. According to some reports, these large numbers for expected green jobs came from the Clinton camp, which in turn came from advocacy groups who, supposedly, did little specific research. A typical argument in the discussion of green jobs is that the fight for the environment, global warming, etc, has and always will be around, new jobs or not.

No matter which side of the green job debate is correct,there are certain specifics that each side do agree on. Both sides agree that no matter the number of green jobs that are created, there will certainly be a jump in ‘green-collar’ jobs. These jobs are the labor jobs that each new energy source will require. They will include the manual labor and low skilled positions.

The good news is that whether the jobs are ‘green’, which includes the non labor extensive positions, or ‘green-collar’ jobs, which will include the labor side of new energy, some new jobs are expected to be created with the push for energy independence. In an ever falling economy, any new job creation is good news.

Find some more information about green jobs at these sites.

Green Jobs

Switching to Green Jobs

Green for All

According to recent reports, the unemployment rate in 2009 is expected to reach 8.4%. This decrease in economic growth is attributed to rising inflation, the ongoing struggle with the credit and housing markets, among other things. Despite the ‘call for change’, Obama’s first year in office will not likely affect the growing recession.

If there is any silver lining to the gray cloud covering the economy, it can be found in comparing the present day to the country’s history. Even though the rise in unemployment and the growing recession are worrisome in their own right, when we compare them to years past, the dark cloud becomes a little lighter.

During the Great Depression, the unemployment rate reached a high of 24.9% in 1933. The lowest unemployment rate in the time period was in 1930 with an unemployment rate of 8.7%. If the economic crisis can be avoided, our high unemployment rate of 8.4% still won’t be as high as the lowest rate during the Great Depression.

If you need more recent evidence to soothe your mind, November 1982 saw an unemployment rate of 10.8%, during the recession of the 80’s. Again, our numbers today have not yet reached that severity. Since the economy, as well as everything else, works on a cycle, it is not surprising that a recession is impending. Furthermore, a depression would not be an unlikely event if evidence of historical economic cycles can be trusted.

Even though the numbers haven’t reached the double digits as of yet, this does not mean that they won’t. The economy is on shaky ground, and a tumble or spill in the wrong direction could have dramatic and damaging consequences. With a new presidency, there will inevitably be changes. For the sake of the economy, the people, and America, we can only hope that the changes bring better times. For real peace of mind, keep working, and get prepared for the future, whatever it holds.

For helpful links and related articles, check these out!

Unemployment in 2009

Canada Predictions

Carribean Unemployment