Study: Green building to support 8 million jobs over next 4 years

A report from the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton shows that green construction will contribute $554 billion to the U.S. GDP between 2009 and 2013.

Source: U.S. Green Building Council -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 11/12/2009 11:20:56 AM

Despite a challenging economic outlook, green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the American economy - including $396 billion in wages - over the next four years (2009-2013), according to a new study from the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton. The study also determined that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.

The economic impact of the total green construction market from 2000 to 2008, the study found, contributed $178 billion to U.S. gross domestic product; created or saved 2.4 million direct, indirect, and induced jobs; and generated $123 billion in wages.

The study was released at the USGBC's annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, a gathering of representatives from all sectors of the green building movement.

The full report can be downloaded online, where one can also find other research, resources, tools and information about green building and its role in the economic recoveries of professionals, businesses, and the nation.