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Environmental Technicians

Outlook

Demand for environmental science and protection technicians is expected to increase by 7 percent, faster than the average for all careers, through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Those trained to handle increasingly complex technical demands will have the best employment prospects. Environmental technicians will be needed to collect soil, water, and air samples to measure the levels of pollutants; to monitor the private industry's compliance with environmental regulations; to clean up contaminated sites; and to address new public concerns about the effects that fracking and other energy exploration or extraction techniques have on the environment. The DOL predicts that most employment growth will occur in firms that help other companies in environmental monitoring, management, and regulatory compliance.

Demand will be higher in some areas of the country than others depending on specialty; for example, air pollution technicians will be especially in demand in large cities, such as Los Angeles and New York, which face pressure to comply with national air quality standards. The degree of industrialization, stringency of state and local pollution control enforcement, health of the local economy, and other factors also will affect demand by region and specialty. Perhaps the greatest factors affecting environmental work are continued mandates for pollution control by the government. As long as federal, state, and local governments support pollution control, environmental technicians will be needed. But if funding is cut for environmental protection, there will be fewer opportunities with government agencies.

Opportunities will be best for environmental technicians with an associate's degree, laboratory, experience, and certification.

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