In much the same way the Works Progress Administration of the Great Depression put millions of Americans back to work, there is great hope that green jobs will do the same during these current tougher-than-ever economic times.

What’s more, CareerBuilder.com recently named green jobs as one of seven careers “poised for growth.” But what are the skills needed to get one of these new economy jobs and just who will qualify for them?

Kris Nasiatka, manager of certification, books, and video at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has a few answers.

“There’s a perception that green jobs will only be about those in renewable energy like the solar panel installer or the wind turbine technician, but there are also green manufacturing jobs to consider,” she explains. “There’s the existing manufacturing job in the aerospace industry where a worker with skills in composites can almost seamlessly transfer to making wind turbines. Then there are manufacturing jobs that would be enhanced by green knowledge.”

“These types of jobs are ultimately good news for a former auto machinist, welder, or fabricator with in-demand skills, but who may need additional training to meet requirements for green manufacturing jobs,” she adds.

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