12 Secure Jobs for the Next Decade

When it comes to job prospects, green is beautiful. Building owners want to find ways to save money and take advantage of tax credits by maximizing efficiency in energy use. For new buildings, owners are increasingly trying to snag coveted LEED certification, an environmental stamp of approval. The government is behind it, too: in January, President Obama announced a $2.3 billion program aimed at creating thousands of "green jobs." Lazarchick describes a man who was laid off from a job as an engineer but was able to find work auditing lighting systems. But even if you're not highly educated, the sector offers opportunities. "If you’re a laborer, you can build green buildings," says Lazarchick. "If you're a bookkeeper, there's green bookkeeping—looking at all the rebates available." In this photo, contractors install electricity-generating solar panels on the roof of a Maryland department store.