Number of Clean Economy Jobs Increasing In Wyoming

The increasing number of "clean economy" jobs is great news for the state of Wyoming who currently ranks last in the nation for the number of such jobs. A recent study from the Brookings Institution states that about 2.1% of the states total jobs are considered "clean economy" jobs. That's a very small percentage for a state that has abundant natural resources.

The Brookings Institution report defines the clean economy as the sector producing goods and services with an environmental benefit. Some of those goods and services include energy conservation, organic farming and sustainable forestry.

Wyoming has more than 6,360 "clean economy" jobs, but according to the Brookings Institution  that's only approximately 2.1% of the total number of  jobs statewide. Those numbers have placed Wyoming last in the nation in regards to such jobs.

Conservation related employment tops the list of "clean economy" jobs followed by environmental services. Others include  regulation and compliance employment. Although Wyoming ranks last it has seen a positive growth rate  of 6.3%. Since 2003 the state has added over 2,200 "clean economy" jobs. In years to come Wyoming hopefully will continue to increase that number.

Wyoming's natural oil and gas industries are also seeing continued interest, and in March Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced 4 coal leases for Wyoming's Powder River Basin. Continued interest in Wyoming's resources and improvements in oil and gas drilling techniques will hopefully propel Wyoming out of the bottom of the nation's rankings.