Toledo ranked fifth for the number of "cleantech" jobs it had last year relative to its overall economy. About 0.7 percent of all jobs in Toledo last year were concentrated in newer "cleantech" industries, such as solar and wind power development. Knoxville, Tenn., was in first place, with 2.5 percent of its jobs coming from newer green sectors.
Overall, the area had 11,831 "clean economy" jobs in 2010, up 72 percent from 6,873 green jobs in 2003, the study said. Toledo ranked 45th among 100 major metro areas for its number of overall green jobs, which included newer "cleantech" industries as well as older industries considered "green."
The New York City metro area had the largest number of green jobs -- more than 152,000 last year -- followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.
A wide range of industries was included in the report, such as wastewater treatment, mass transit, solar energy, wind power, and biofuel development. Local employers in the report included Maumee auto supplier Dana Holding Corp., which makes fuel cells, solar panel maker Xunlight Corp. of Toledo, and Spartan Chemical Co. Inc., a Maumee firm with a line of environmentally friendly chemical products.
Brookings, a Washington think tank, identified green firms based on dozens of industry lists, including association membership rosters, patent assignees, and venture capital recipients.
Mark Muro, senior fellow and policy director with Brookings, said green job growth in metro Toledo is contributing to economic stability for local workers. The estimated median salary for green jobs in metro Toledo was $40,276 last year, compared to $34,729 for all jobs in the area. "The clean economy is beginning to make a difference on the provision of good, quality jobs in Toledo and Ohio," Mr. Muro said.
He noted that metro Toledo might have even more eco-friendly jobs than reported, because Brookings did not include firms with fewer than five employees.
Continued "clean economy" growth could depend on governmental policies that support such industries, such as tax incentives, renewable energy standards, and financing for green projects, Mr. Muro said.
Contact Sheena Harrison at: sharrison@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.