A new report by the Ecotech Institute shows that experience in sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable energy and similar knowledge are important across a growing number of business jobs.

The organization produces the Clean Jobs Index, which measures the location and prevalence of all types of green jobs across the United States. The latest update revealed that there were nearly 60,000 U.S. jobs in March that met the criteria for green jobs — all located solely in traditional business environments.

The United States is not the only country where green jobs are swaying more companies and employees over to more “sustainability” positions. For example, a recent study by Eco Canada revealed that sustainability jobs were one of the fastest growing environmental areas in the nation, with more than 50,000 employees spending at least 50 percent of their time in fields related to environmental, economic or social sustainability.

The growing demand for jobs with an “eco” edge also stresses the need for more sustainability-focused education in universities around the world, Ecotech Institute claims. The institute suggests its two-year business administration program as a potential solution for employees or firms looking for a way to add new sustainability skills to their competencies. Such courses cover many basic classes, including accounting, financial analysis, HR, communications and customer service, but with added specialties on renewable energy, ethics and sustainability, plus an overall eco-friendly viewpoint on the business world. Ecotech also offers a variety of applied science degrees, more specialized programs for wind, solar and energy-efficiency topics.

These types of careers span the globe, and apply to public- and private-sector jobs as well as nonprofit and consultancy positions, reported Kyle Crider, director of sustainability for Ecotech Institute, in the press release. “Organizations of all sizes that are looking to lessen their carbon footprint require someone who deeply understands the intersection between business and sustainability.”

According to the Clean Jobs Index report, students wielding such degrees would have the best luck looking for work in the following states: California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Michigan. Those were the top five states for clean jobs in 2012. The top five states, per capita, were Alaska, North Dakota, Iowa, Delaware and Massachusetts.

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