Green-collar jobs: what’s in a name? November 2009

25 November 2009 – There is no agreed definition for the term “green-collar jobs”, unfortunately, and as a result it is difficult to estimate how many so-called green-collar jobs exist, or are likely to be created with various green-economy plans.

Neither are there definitive lists of the industries, job functions or goals that together define the green economy.

To address the confusion in terminology, a green-collar worker coding system has been mooted in a report by Connection Research, in conjunction with the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and supported by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. At present, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand use standardised coding for jobs and skills, including the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations for occupations and the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification for industry sectors.

The Connection Research report suggests that it is possible to identify green-collar workers, and this is the first step towards understanding their needs, skills and aspirations. I met a number of aspiring green-collar workers at the Australian Youth Climate Coalition at the University of Western Sydney in July. Here are some of their aspirations:

• To understand how they can use their skills to make a real difference to the world we live in.
• The opportunity to influence policy-making, and help business make a profit while operating with regard for the environment and society.
• To become social entrepreneurs.

The report proposes a simple four-character code, each one describing an attribute of the job:

• environmental or sustainable
• occupation
• skills level
• industry

This system allows any green-collar job to be coded and base-line data to be collected in order to understand the skills’ base Australia has, and therefore what it will need to respond to climate change, water scarcity and what is needed to repair environmental damage and offer environmental goods and services.

It also means that all job descriptions accord largely with standard ABS and SNZ industry, occupational and skills classifications. This is essential for using the descriptions in conjunction with official statistical data used by all government and most industry policy-makers.

Definitions and Distinctions

One of the distinctions that is coming to the surface is that green-collar jobs are different from green jobs.

•    A green job is one that helps the environment.
•    A green-collar job is one that is good for the worker and the environment.

That said, professional positions are largely responsible for launching the green economy. Can you imagine a green economy without the following:

• Scientists and engineers who invent, design, and test new green products.
• Investors and financial analysts who provide funding to green businesses.
• Marketing and sales specialists who educate and motivate the public and businesses to buy eco friendly products and services.
• Architects and construction managers who design, guide and manage green-building projects in conjunction with sustainability managers.
• Managers, human-resources groups and administrative teams who run green businesses and manage, train and support those with green-collar jobs.

Although it would be helpful to have a precise way to determine whether a particular job is a green job, a green-collar job, or a green-professional job, the green economy is just not yet mature enough.

As the green economy evolves, its terminology will become more defined and clearly understood. The Connection Research report is a solid foundation on which to build.

Lisa Tarry is managing director of Turning Green Consultants.

Networking - Getting Ready for Action October 2009

Lisa Tarry of recruitment consultancy Turning Green says it’s been a big year for networking in the sustainability sector — plenty of drinks; new groups forming, government-sponsored and non-government alike — and the green development industry has been stoking the fires of goodwill, waiting for the tide to turn.

“It’s all about networking; loads of functions and lots of goodwill gatherings,” she says.

“A year ago everyone was terrified of doing anything. They had their their purse strings tightly closed.

“It’s been a year of up-skilling and gradually the cloud has lifted and it’s a steady path through to Copenhagen …Obviously the decoupling of the emissions trading scheme with a renewable energy target was a significant milestone, but then a lot of jobs around are ground level jobs such as a solar-panel installers and grid workers. Quite base-level roles.”

At the corporate end there is also evidence is that the tide is turning and demand for green jobs and green services is building, she says. ASX-listed companies are hiring some in-house staff and, for now at least, outsourcing the overflow of work.

“They can’t cope with the amount of work they have, so they will outsource extra work to consultants,” Ms Tarry says.

On the candidates sides, competition for in-house positions with the best companies is fierce. 

“Applications are running at about 70 to 80 for each position,” she says.

That doesn’t mean others are missing out. They are registering the surge in outsourcing work and teaming up with like-minded people to form small consultancies.

“I’m seeing a lot of candidates register with me and then drop off to start their own company or getting together with other consultants to start companies.”

Glass ceiling showing some cracks November 2009

The Telstra Women’s Business Awards, NSW, in October, was pause for a little contemplation on the status of women in business, writes Lisa Tarry

The buzz in the air that only a room full of driven, successful women can create was electrifying. The recent Telstra Women’s Business Awards celebrated achievements by women in all kinds of sectors and professions. Rhonda Brighton, general manager of human resources with eyewear specialist Luxottica was voted 2009 NSW Business Woman of the Year, and Romilly Madew, chief executive of the Green Building Council of Australia, took the Community and Government Award, for NSW, [and in November, the national prize in this category].

This year has tested us all as businesswomen, yet we manage to remain upbeat in difficult times. As job numbers slow, women are less affected by unemployment and seem to walk through the challenges and come out celebrating.

However, the atmosphere was tempered with a stark reality of the ever-present glass ceiling; Australia now ranks behind the US, Canada, Britain and South Africa in female board representation.

Women comprise 45 per cent of the Australian workforce and government invests billions into women through TAFE and university training and education, but the question remains whether we reap and realise this investment through employment at senior levels within the corporate sector.

Only 8.3 per cent of board members are women and women comprise only 5.9 per cent of the senior executives of ASX 200 companies1.

These are pretty depressing statistics and show the need for a culture change throughout the corporate sector, and that cultural change will only be brought about when there is a critical mass pushing the cracks to break the glass ceiling.

Events like the Telstra Women’s Business Awards are important in forming that critical mass. The 2008 NSW Business Woman of the Year, the Toga Group’s Rachel Argaman, said the award had given her access to incredible networks and relationships and provided great business opportunities:

Rhonda Brighton’s award was in recognition of Luxottica’s strong focus on corporate social responsibility, often the first casualty in an economic downturn. Brighton said the company’s philosophy is that CSR strategies help “keep the soul” of the company intact through difficult times like the global financial crisis, and that is important.

The Green Building Council’s Romilly Madew said at the state awards that while she is very aware of the glass ceiling, she has only ever felt accepted and supported as an equal in a male-dominated industry.

The Innovator’s Award went to scientist Cathy Foley for the successful development and commercialisation of a new mineral exploration tool called LANDTEM, sponsored by BHP Billiton.

Lisa Tarry

Foley says she intends to use her award to show that women can invent, create and make a difference to the world.

So despite the glass ceiling, it is inspiring to see the Telstra Women’s Business Awards continue to recognise and celebrate women’s achievements in the corporate world. Each and every nominee and winner is a great role model for our future women leaders. Long may they reign!

1 Put more women on corporate boards, says Sex Discrimination Commissioner, By Sue Dunlevy From: The Daily Telegraph Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 EST 2009 Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 EST 2009

Lisa Tarry is managing director of Turning Green recruitment consultancy.

Water Wise Award November 2009

The Water Wise Awards program is about two things; recognition and shared learning.  Moreover, 2010 will be the inaugural year for a new and pre-eminent award: the Prime Minister’s Water Wise Award – for water efficiency excellence by commercial and industrial water users.

The commercial and industrial sector has an important role to play in securing water supplies. As large users of water, there are productivity gains and net economic benefits, as well as environmental benefits to be made from using less water.

Typically this sector consumes approximately 15 to 20 per cent of water in Australia and greater water efficiency will take pressure off fresh water supplies in urban and regional areas.

The Award forms part of the Water Efficiency Opportunities program administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and aims to encourage and recognise significant savings in water efficiency by the commercial and industrial sector.

Tom Mollenkopf, CEO of the Australian Water Association says, “People get a little sick of the stick all the time; what we need is more of the carrot. The Water Wise Award is about recognizing those who are being innovative and more importantly those from whom we can learn, and share these innovations.”

There are not many things the Prime Minister puts his personal stamp on or personal signature in this case, it’s recognition of the importance of us all making a contribution.  This is about shining the light on commercial and industrial users, looking at what they are doing and encouraging others to do something that is going to save water, save money and contribute to long-term sustainability.”

Mollenkopf wasn’t always in water; in fact he started out in a private legal practice, working in corporate law for Australian Airlines and various other businesses, before working for South East Water in Melbourne.  Prior to taking up this posting, Tom spent a couple of years with the International Water Association in London.

The Award

The core criteria is that a nominee has to be able to demonstrate bulk volumes of water saved annually, in particular a reduction in use compared to equivalent facilities. That’s the base. You don’t even get considered until you can demonstrate objectively that you are saving water.

Once you get over that first threshold the panel will then look at your level of water savings and the ability for the project to be replicated at other similar facilities; whether it be used as a demonstration for others to take up in similar circumstances. Then they would like to see innovation in processes or technologies. Lastly, there has got to be a process for implementing water safety, evidence in excellence, they really want to see examples from those who have done something more than just the run of the mill.

This idea is one of the first forays of the Federal Government to encourage commercial and industrial users to become more water efficient. From Mollenkopf’s perspective, this is about encouraging good practice by articulating some very simple criteria and allowing people to go out and be innovative and select the best way to deliver on it. There is no mandated function, or regulatory function to do it; it is about demonstrating social and environmental responsibility.

Another great thing about this award is that the government wants to see this get some airplay; they want to see people get really enthused about this but they are also concerned about integrity, which is why they are working with the Australian Water Association. The AWA is an independent, not for profit organisation with expert knowledge about sustainable water management. They will form the judging panel, well articulated criteria and then let the independent experts come up with their decisions and celebrate the outcomes.

Mollenkopf believes that anything reinforcing the message has got to be a good thing. There have been requirements for major commercial and industrial consumers to put in place saving plans, because the cost of water will increase quite dramatically in the coming years as we are forced to find water from more expensive sources. In many cases demand management can be cheaper than buying more water.

The big hope now is that the Water Wise Awards are FLOODED with nominations!!