Regional Dashboard
Clean Jobs - Job Creation
What is the measure?
Percent of new clean technology jobs out of the total number of new technology jobs created in the county.
How are we doing?
There is still lack of agreement about what constitutes a “clean” job and difficulty in measuring the clean economy in a standard way, but with more than 800 “cleantech” companies, San Diego County has established itself as an important hub for the clean economy. Among 930 total new jobs created by technology start-ups in the San Diego region in 2010, approximately 7% fit into the category of environmental technology, a decline of about 8% from the previous year. However, in the first half of 2011, that number increased to 11%.
In San Diego, the average annual wage for environmental technology jobs in 2010 was more than $90,000. The San Diego metro area ranked 21st among the 100 largest metro areas in total number of clean jobs according to a 2011 report by The Brookings Institution.
Why is it important?
- A “clean” economy is central to our region’s strategy for maintaining global competitiveness.
- Five clean-tech sectors are responsible for 10,000 jobs and $2.25 billion in economic activity annually in the San Diego region, according to recent studies by CleanTECH San Diego and SANDAG.
- The clean economy provides opportunity for a diversity of skill
levels, from scientists and engineers to “green collar” jobs (energy or water
efficiency retrofits or solar installers), which are high-paying local jobs
that often cannot be outsourced abroad.
How can we improve?
Policy Options:
- Support a coordinated approach in the region to align workforce training, especially for low-skilled workers, with employer needs in the clean tech sector.
- Streamline zoning and regulations to site new clean technology businesses.
- Support policies that create demand for clean-tech services and technologies such as incentives to encourage water and energy efficiency, which will create a more predictable business climate for employers to create jobs.
- Pursue policies and support programs to rebuild San Diego’s manufacturing sector with a focus on the innovation and clean economy.