Five percent of Mo. jobs tied to 'green' economy

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri economic development officials say nearly 5 percent of the state's work force has ties to so-called "green" jobs.

The Department of Economic Development reported Thursday that it found 130,000 positions statewide are tied to the "green" economy. The study was Missouri's first to focus on these types of jobs and covered energy production, manufacturing, farming, building, waste management and government.

More than half of the jobs and economic activity reported in the survey was in construction. The next largest were in energy production and manufacturing.

Economic Development Director David Kerr says the survey shows Missouri has potential to expand in the "green" sector and developing a strategy to target that would be wise.