TREND SKILLS
Global - Supply chain management professionals armed with "green" qualifications would be increasingly sought after, said the University of San Francisco (USF).
Federal training grants are driving interest in environmental sourcing, said USF which offers an online green supply chain management course.
USF said the US Department of Labour has awarded US$290 million since the beginning of 2010 towards green jobs training grants, and aims to prepare more than 120,000 Americans for environmentally-friendly jobs by 2012.
The university reasons that support from the government would equate to a growing demand for green supply chain supervisors and managers, who can bridge the divide between the fossil-fuel-based economy and a new energy efficient one across every industry.
According to a Pew Charitable Trusts' study, the number of jobs in America's emerging clean energy economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than overall jobs between 1998 and 2007.
"Companies nationwide now recognise the major importance of their green supply chain, and find themselves competing for a limited number of qualified supply chain specialists," said Neil O'Connell, USF online faculty member and supply chain expert.
"Funding for green jobs training in the US is on the rise and for those interested in pursuing a green career, there's never been a better time," added O'Connell.
The World Resources Institute reported that currently 60 corporations are measuring the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their products and supply chains.
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