Wind Turbine Jobs
Well, there is nothing like trying to predict the weather and
giving out a wind turbine jobs forecast is something along the
same lines. But, for argument's sake let's take a stab at a little
prognostication based upon current facts and forward thinking.
Let's start with the facts about wind turbine jobs and move on
from there. According to the American Wind Energy Association
for the year 2008, there were 85,000 jobs within the wind energy
sector. This is a sharp upturn from 2007 in which there were 50,000
wind turbine jobs.
Also, in 2008 Iowa (2,790 MW) edged out California (2,517 MW)
for second place for wind energy capacity with Texas (7,116 MW)
solidly in first place. For a list of the top 10 wind producing
states see the page on wind farms
that will give you more details.
Now, as a little reality check for 2009, because of the economic
climate including the credit crisis, there has been a downturn
in the wind turbine orders as well. T. Boone Pickens has had to
delay some of his wind farm project because of the credit situation
and some of the major wind turbine manufacturers like Clipper
Windpower, LM Glasfiber, DMI Industries and Trinity Structural
Towers have all announced layoffs.
The outlook for wind turbines jobs in 2009 looks to be rocky
with some companies remaining strong and hiring employees while
others are conducting layoffs. A couple of resources for those
looking for jobs in the wind energy sector include Wind
Jobs and Wind
Industry Jobs (I'm not affiliated with either).
Even though the overall economy is not expected to do well in
2009, let's look forward to the wind industry jobs after the overall
market rebounds (this is also where predicting the weather comes
in).
There are a couple of green job surveys taken in 2008 that give
widely differing results as to what the future looks like. Of
course, the wind energy sector is but a part of the overall green
jobs sector that also includes solar, geothermal, biofuels and
other renewable and alternative energy subsections.
According to the U. S. Mayors Green Jobs Report in October of
2008, there are expected to be 4.2 million green jobs created
by 2038. Over 85-percent of these jobs are said to be in metropolitan
areas. This is part of the newly created Green Jobs Index which
is now tracking this progress.
According to the American Solar Energy Society, however, 37 million
green jobs will be created in the U. S. by the year 2030. These
jobs will be in renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors.
Of course, the fastest growing renewable energy sector is jobs
in the wind turbine industry. But, this still accounts for only
a 10-percent or so of the overall green jobs (at least according
to the Mayors' report).
So, wind turbine jobs for 2009 as for many sectors may be as
turbulent as the weather itself. But, the long-term view is optimistic
and growth oriented so one should not shy away from getting a
toehold in this industry quickly as many ground floor opportunities
now will most assuredly blossom over time.
Here is another U. S. source in looking for wind energy jobs:
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=wind+energy&l=
Here is also a worldwide resource for looking for wind energy
jobs:
Worldwide
Wind Energy Jobs
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