by Eileen Weber Nearly four months into 2010, the economy seems to be picking up. There are signs of life. After such a steep recession with so many people losing their jobs, it remained to be seen which industries would blossom while others continued to dwindle.
Take the example of Alice Dinihanian Arcuri, a Stratford native who has a professional background as an IT project manager and lost her position with a consulting firm in November 2008. She was highlighted in today's Connecticut Post realizing her dream of becoming a florist. She recently bought a local flower shop and is excited at the prospect of making it grow.
But for many, going into business for themselves wasn't an option. Some have had to take jobs they are grossly overqualified for. In yesterday's New York Times, some have found a way to make the most out of lower positions simply because they are just happy to be employed.
While the financial market has plummeted, the green industry has continued to grow. For Bridgeport, green jobs may be where it's at. The Connecticut Post reported that U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis spoke at The Workplace, Inc. about Green-Up Bridgeport. The job training program is meant to make use of the $4 million provided by the government. The program's goal is to provide unskilled workers the training they need to get jobs in a growing industry that shows real promise for the future.
But not everyone is convinced that green jobs will help the economy. In yesterday's Inland Empire News, Republican Senator Bob Dutton proclaimed that in California green jobs have not "pumped up" their economy. They are still reeling from high unemployment rates and what California really needs is more jobs, not necessarily green ones.
Perhaps the focus should not be on green or un-green jobs. Maybe we need to focus on a way to make all jobs as green as they can be. The real point here may not be to segregate the green industry from other industries, but that all jobs in one way or another are environmentally friendly.
Image courtesy of Llenrock Blog.
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