Data Points: Economic Consequences of The New Apollo Program in Select States

During the first two weeks of October, the Apollo Alliance introduced The New Apollo Program in town hall meetings and news conferences in six states - California, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington State. Our preparation included determining the consequences of our plan in building the economy and green-collar job prospects in each.

Our New Apollo Program roll out tour occurred during the start of the worst domestic and global financial crisis in almost 80 years. The national unemployment rate is 6.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means that 9.5 million Americans are without jobs, an increase of 2.2 million people since September of last year and a level not seen in the United States since the early 1990s. 

Some 159,000 jobs were lost in September, including 35,000 construction jobs.  Overall, 760,000 jobs have been lost so far this year, including 442,000 manufacturing jobs. By year’s end, it is estimated that a million jobs will have been lost. These are the highest unemployment numbers since 2003. Over 442,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in the last 12 months, bringing the total to over 4 million manufacturing jobs lost since 1999.

The New Apollo Program represents an effective and sweeping response. It promises $500 billion in strategic investments over 10 years to accelerate the clean energy economy, the fastest growing industrial sector in the United States and one of the rare bright spots in the American economy. Our analysis follows:

Green-Collar Jobs in U.S.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates that there were more than 750,000 green jobs in the U.S. in 2006, while the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) estimates that approximately 14.4 million people are currently working in the U.S. green economy.   

Unemployment in Select States

California - Unemployment is 7.7 percent, a 2.2 percent increase since 2007, the highest in a decade. Over 1.4 million Californians are jobless. California lost 7,700 jobs in September, and a total of 78,000 jobs have been lost since last year.  Construction has been hit the hardest. California lost over 85,000 construction jobs in the last 12 months.  Additionally, over 26,000 manufacturing jobs were lost over the past year.

Colorado - Although lower than the national average, joblessness has climbed to 5.4 percent, a 1.6 percent increase since 2007 and the highest it has been since 2005. That means that over 147,000 Colorado workers are currently without jobs.  Colorado lost 1,800 jobs in August. Colorado lost over 5,800 manufacturing jobs in the last 12 months.  Additionally, over 2,900 manufacturing jobs were lost over the past year.

Michigan - Persistent joblessness has climbed to 8.9 percent, 1.7 percent higher than a year ago. Over 444,000 state workers are without jobs. Michigan lost almost 7,000 jobs just in August, and a total of 90.000 jobs have been lost since last year.  Manufacturing has been hit the hardest - Michigan lost over 40,300 manufacturing jobs in the last 12 months.  Additionally, over 16,000 construction jobs were lost over the past year.

Ohio - Like its neighbor to the north joblessness has climbed to 7.4 percent, 1.7 percent higher than a year ago. Over 439,000 Michigan workers are currently without jobs. Ohio lost almost 19,900 jobs just in August, and a total of 69,900 jobs have been lost since last year. Manufacturing has been hit the hardest with over 15,000 manufacturing jobs in the last 12 months.  Additionally, over 5,900 construction jobs were lost over the past year.

Oregon - Joblessness has reached 6.5 percent, 1.2 percent higher than a year ago. Over 127,500  workers are without jobs. Oregon lost almost 14,000 jobs just in August, and a total of 14,000 jobs have been lost since last year. Construction has been hit the hardest - over 11,300 jobs in the last 12 months.  Additionally, over 9,800 manufacturing jobs were lost over the past year.

Washington  - Joblessness has climbed to 6 percent, 1.5 percent higher than a year ago and the highest since the dot com bust in 2001 - 2004. Over 209,000 workers are currently without jobs. Still, the state’s economy is growing. Washington gained 31,500 jobs since last year, including 3,700 manufacturing jobs.

Green-Collar Jobs In Select States

These jobs are focused on renewable energy, biofuels, and energy efficiency. They include jobs in the renewable power, agriculture, engineering, research, manufacturing, construction, and government sectors. Here’s how many there are in:

California — 72,587 existing green-collar jobs.

Colorado - 10,789 green-collar jobs.

Michigan - 12,614 green-collar jobs.

Ohio - 16,884 green-collar jobs.

Oregon - 12,056 green-collar jobs.

Washington - 17,238 green-collar jobs.

What The New Apollo Program Can Do
The 10-year, $500 billion investment proposed in The New Apollo Program would produce the following economic and green-collar job consequences:

• $64 billion would go to California, creating 498,215 direct, permanent jobs over 10 years, including:
  • 73,842 on-site construction jobs.
  • 61,350 on-site manufacturing jobs.
  • 12,795 transportation jobs.
  • A total 1.5 million direct, indirect, and induced jobs over 10 years.

• $8.2 billion would go to Colorado, creating 66,321 direct, permanent jobs over 10 years, including:
  • 12,560 on-site construction jobs.
  • 6,699 on-site manufacturing jobs.
  • 1,830 transportation jobs.
  • A total 164,245 direct, indirect, and induced jobs over 10 years.

• $19.7 billion would go to Michigan, creating 135,314 direct, permanent jobs over 10 years, including:
  • 38,919 on-site construction jobs.
  • 17,006 on-site manufacturing jobs.
  • 3,128 transportation jobs.
  • A total 306,970 direct, indirect, and induced jobs over 10 years.

• $22 billion would go to Ohio, creating 155,899 direct, permanent jobs over 10 years, including:
  • 42,855 on-site construction jobs.
  • 17,756 on-site manufacturing jobs.
  • 4,265 transportation jobs.
  • A total 401,800 direct, indirect, and induced jobs over 10 years.

• $6 billion would go to Oregon, creating 44,340 direct, permanent jobs over 10 years, including:
  • 10,302 on-site construction jobs.
  • 6,192 on-site manufacturing jobs.
  • 1,260 transportation jobs.
  • A total 136,535 direct, indirect, and induced jobs over 10 years.

• $10 billion would go to Washington, creating 81,534 direct, permanent jobs over 10 years, including:
  • 10,241 on-site construction jobs.
  • 11,707 on-site manufacturing jobs.
  • 2,562 transportation jobs.
  • A total 213,450 direct, indirect, and induced jobs over 10 years.

 Sources:

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Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2008

Global Insight.  Current and Potential Green Jobs in the U.S. Economy (U.S. Conference of Mayors, October 2008)

Pollin, R. and Wicks-Lim, J.  Job Opportunities for the Green Economy (Political Economy Research Institute, June 2008).

Ibid.

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