By Jenna McMurray

Green-collar jobs are the way of the future, shows a study that examined the growing number of jobs with environmental ties and the need to retrofit Calgary’s workforce.

A report titled Green Collar Jobs: New Workforce Development Opportunities, which will be released in Calgary next week, shows environmental industries are sustainable in more than one way.

The study, which began in January and wrapped up at the end of April, was funded by Alberta Employment and Immigration and jointly commissioned by the non-profit group, Momentum, and Thrive, Calgary’s community economic development network.

It looked at the potential for green-collar jobs, which are entry-level positions similar to blue-collar jobs, but which improve the quality of the environment.

Brenna Atnikov, community economic development facilitator for Momentum and Thrive, said during the recession, the number of green industry establishments declined only 0.8% in Calgary, compared with the total establishment decline of 4.5%

“Green industry establishments were more resilient to economic recession,” said Atnikov.

“A lot of jobs that are traditional blue-collar jobs will eventually have a green or environmental component.”