$30B Sought for High-Tech Jobs In Obama's Stimulus Package

A report to be released Wednesday calls on the Obama administration to earmark about $30 billion on high-tech jobs in its stimulus package that could reach $1 trillion.

The report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation—The Digital Road to Recovery: A Stimulus Plan to Create Jobs, Boost Productivity and Revitalize America—promises to provide “a detailed analysis and estimate of the short-term jobs impacts of spurring investment in three critical digital networks: broadband, the smart grid (making the electric distribution system intelligent) and health IT and outlines policy steps to spur this investment.” ITIF says:

As Congress considers a substantial stimulus package to get the economy moving, investing in new economy digital infrastructures will provide significant opportunities not just for short-term stimulus and job creation, but also longer term economic and social benefits.

In an interview with The New York Times, ITIF president Robert Atkinson says “there’s another category of stimulus you could call innovation or digital stimulus—‘stimovation,’ as a colleague has referred to it.” as the article states:

Although many economists believe that a stimulus package must be timely, targeted and temporary, Atkinson’s organization argues that a fourth adjective—transformative—may be the most important. Transformative stimulus investments, he said, lead to economic growth that wouldn’t be there otherwise.

Atkinson also says that providing $30 billion in stimulus money for high tech jobs would provide a wonderful chance to integrate innovative technologies at a faster pace than otherwise would be possible. The ITIF chief, via NYT:

“You’d have an economy and society within three to four years that would be a lot better than we have today, and you’d create a lot of jobs.”

Green Jobs Board Launched

A clean-tech research-publishing firm and executive search firm have teamed to launch an online site that posts job openings for the clean-energy and clean-tech industries.

Clean Edge Jobs already has nearly 200 jobs posted. Among these are those demanding IT know-how such as system programmer, web developer, software engineer and data processing specialist.

It's been the contention of this blog that the greening of our businesses, economy and society will create many new employment opportunities for IT professionals.

Is Green Behind Growth in IT Services Payrolls?

Though still a minute part of their businesses, IT services firms are winning more contracts to help improve the smart electricity grid, adding even more intelligence to what could evolve into the energy Internet.

So, could one reason payrolls expanded at IT services firms last month when nearly every other sector shed jobs be its entry into this new green-tech field? The primary factor for job growth of IT services firms is the need of IT know-how to keep businesses functioning in these stressful times, according to the blog The IT Job Analyst.

Are Green Jobs More Secure?

Despite massive job reductions in many industries, green jobs are proving to be resilient, at least in Europe, some recruiters say.

According to a report posted on ClimateChangeCorp.com, the low-carbon job market in Europe continues to prosper. Here's what Ben Cartland of the environment, sustainability and climate-change job recruiter Acre Resources says:

“Appointments are still being made and we are hearing from clients that there is a need to grow their teams. And we are not talking about the standard replacement roles when people leave, these are newly-generated positions.”

Acre is conducting its second annual salary survey, and preliminary results suggest green workers feel more secure about their jobs than they did a year ago.

Cartland says sustainability managers with experience working in large corporations are hard to find as are professionals with renewable energy and engineering experience.

The ClimateChangeCorp posting cites Dawn Kenworthy at environmental recruiter Allen and York as saying the job market for renewables and energy management is booming. She says jobs in energy management are sought after because companies, in a recession, seek to save as much money as possible.

Smart Grid = IT Jobs

The incoming Barack Obama administration's commitment to a smart grid should increase the demand for those with IT skills to help enhance the so-called energy Internet. The following is from Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle:

Obama is considering creating an energy council within the White House, much like the National Economic Council. He has asked former EPA administrator Carol Browner to lead his transition team on energy and the environment. The economic stimulus plan could offer Obama a chance to make an early mark on energy: It is expected to include a multibillion-dollar investment in a "smart grid," upgrading the nation's electrical transmission system to boost energy efficiency while also creating new jobs.

Movement on the energy council will come after Obama names an energy secretary. Possible nominees include Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius; Dan Reicher, a former assistant energy secretary in the Clinton administration who directs energy and climate initiatives for Google.org; and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Also, according to the Chronicle, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would be a "splashy pick," but he's says he plans to finish his term.