Northern Ireland's Green Economy: An Examination of Environmentally Based Employment Opportunities

Environmentally based economic development opportunities in Northern Ireland are identified and predicted over the medium term to the year 2000. The results show that in 199 about 1.9% of the total Northern Ireland workforce (11500 workers) was employed within a 'green production sector'. Using an innovative economic modelling technique it is suggested that there are significant employment generation opportunities available and a total of up to 15000 new jobs could be created in Northern Ireland's green economy by the turn of the century. Moreover, and on the basis of these findings, four recommendations are offered which could help maximize the employment potentials afforded by environmental activity.