Where can I get a job in the environmental field?

Usually, that question requires a great deal of time and explanation to help people understand the vast extent of just what the so-called environmental field encompasses. In today's environmental job market, that would include people who design pollution control systems, drinking water and wastewater treatment, disposal of solid and hazardous waste, and the cleanup of oil spills. Reports from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics would add to that people travailing in the forest service, land management and fish hatcheries, as well as other numerous other wildlife and ecosystem work.

According to various estimates, there are more than 2 million to 5 million jobs in the United States related to environment positions. Although the recent recession saw thousands of environmental professionals lose their jobs, recent changes in governmental regulations should soon see a new push to hire people now and into the future. The environmental sector is, by all indicators, a strong sector that will provide great opportunities to job seekers. Environmental career opportunities are currently growing or holding steady across all sectors. Environmental engineers, hazardous materials removal specialists, pollution prevention, energy efficiency, and environmental science and protection technicians are among the hottest jobs.

Types of jobs available

Employment opportunities include careers as environmental engineers, nature and wetlands scientists, Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals, technicians, chemists, Earth scientists/geologists, policy and lawmakers, wildlife conservationists, enviro-planners, educators, wastewater treatment and operations managers, program and project managers, natural resources managers, etc.

Environment-related jobs include those created both directly and indirectly by environmental protection regulatory requirements that are generated at the federal, state or local level. There are many jobs available in the open market for persons who have just graduated from environmental studies such as environmental engineering, environmental health and safety, or auditing and assessments.

The vast majority of jobs created by environmental protection are standard jobs for accountants, engineers, computer analysts, clerks, factory workers, truck drivers or mechanics who may not work for an environmental company, but whose day-to-day work is part of the environmental economy.

Enviro job boom

The large number of new and changing environmental laws and regulations in this country is projected to create the need for environmental technologies and services. As the U.S. economy grows, increasing impacts on the environment from air and water pollution from industry will require further remediation workers, companies and equipment. Students need to watch for emerging issues, such as global climate change and sustainability, that will create more demand for new strategies, experts and industries to address them.

Because the environmental field relies heavly on governmental funding, many new sources of jobs will be with state and federal agencies followed by consultants and then industry. Be sure to contact EPA as well as other state and federal governmental agencies on what new jobs are opening up and being offered in the environmental field. PE