“Aside from the everyday efforts you make to help the environment, such as recycling or taking the bus, wouldn’t it be great if you could be well-paid to help the planet? As it happens, many environmental jobs pay around $30 an hour or more.

“Fueled in part by massive federal funding for environmental projects included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) — better known as the stimulus bill — green jobs have a bright future. There’s a broad range of occupations that allow you to make a difference, so there is likely a green job for you no matter what your interest and skills.

“Below is a list of well-paid, green gigs with their median annual salary according to online salary database PayScale.com. That figure is then broken down to an hourly rate by dividing by 2080, the typical number of working hours in a year, according to PayScale.”

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“Many people who have lost jobs to the recession may find a cure for unemployment in the health care field.

“The need for specialty nurses, therapists and technicians of all kinds has stayed strong. Recruiters say health care reform could trigger even more growth.

“Meanwhile, the Obama administration touts health care as one of the industries that will drive a jobs recovery.”

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“Through the cycles of boom and bust that have roiled New York City’s glossy finance, media and high-tech industries over the last 20 years, one segment of the economy has churned steadily along, reliably producing jobs and helping cushion even the sharpest downturns: health care.

“Now, as the population ages and Congress dangles the possibility of a flood of newly insured patients seeking care, the city is looking to capitalize on growth in the field, which is expected to create more new jobs across the country than any other industry in the coming decade.

“On Monday, city officials plan to open an employment center dedicated to training workers for and placing them in health-related jobs, from home care aides to registered nurses. The aim of the center, the city’s second employment office to focus on a single industry, is not just to find work for people, officials say, but also to help them start or advance full-fledged careers.”

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“A well-paying, rewarding career doesn’t have to mean a four-year slog through college. There are plenty of jobs that pay nicely with less education, ranging from certificate courses just a few months long to two-year community college programs.

“Education costs for most of these careers are modest — you might even pay nothing at all. If you’re from a low-income family and between 18-24, you may qualify to receive up to three years of free job training, housing and support services through the federal program Job Corps. National program director Esther Jacobs says Job Corps serves roughly 100,000 students a year.

“‘We’re the best-kept secret in this country,’ she says.

“Otherwise, state-sponsored technical and vocational schools will usually be a cheaper option than private training companies, and many offer financial aid. Most training programs will help you with job placement when you’re done, too.”

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“Jill Ste. Claire Berndsen’s eyes sparkle while helping couples select wedding bands at the Ben Bridge jewelry store at Seattle’s Northgate Mall. It’s a long way from what she calls her ‘terrifying days’ of finding a new job.

“‘It was very scary to be 51, as I was, and changing careers — especially with so many people out there and so few jobs,’ says the former construction-industry sales specialist, who was hired by Ben Bridge in January 2009.

“It’s a fear shared by many of her 50- to 55-year-old “pre-senior” peers, as well as the more than 10,000 King County residents age 56 or older who are currently collecting unemployment insurance. But armed with job-search strategies and resources designed specifically for folks over 50, many are beating the unemployment odds, according to Seattle-area AARP spokesman Jason Erskine.”

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“In today’s ever changing job market, not only have the types of jobs offered changed, but so have the individuals who make up the current workforce. Many older workers are opting to continue working instead of retiring. If you’re one of these seasoned professionals, how do you keep your edge and stay fresh and vibrant in today’s fast paced employment atmosphere?

1. Be trendy Follow job market trends. Older workers must keep their finger on the pulse of the labor force by asking themselves, ‘What jobs are in demand today?’ and by keeping up with today’s technology, particularly computer technology says Deborah Russell, director of the issues agenda for economic security for AARP, a non-profit organization for people age 50 and over.”

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“Community colleges are poised to take a greater role in providing job training as more federal money becomes available to return the unemployed to the workplace.

“The Riverside Community College District got $660,000 in stimulus cash to employ youths during the summer and expects millions more to expand programs. Mt. San Jacinto College expects nearly $1 million to expand programs, including those for alternative fuel mechanics and water technicians.

“And a grant of about $870,000 that was awarded to the San Bernardino Community College District on Friday for green job training is partially funded by stimulus dollars.”

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“Today’s economy has many people returning to school in lieu of working full time, while others have chosen to enhance their education to make themselves more marketable to employers.

“In a CareerBuilder survey of more than 8,000 workers, 21 percent said they were going to school to make themselves more viable for employers. Of that group surveyed in March, 7 percent go to school full time, 3 percent attend part time and 5 percent take classes online.

“Have you toyed with the idea of going back to school, but didn’t think you could? Here are 10 stories from workers who thought they didn’t have time for school and how they made it work.”

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“When unemployment is high, job-seekers may need to go where the jobs are, ‘to make ends meet, to get on with their lives,’ says John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“But don’t move with the herd.Before workers decide to relocate, career counselors advise making sure they understand the local economy they’re going to, and what they’d do if the new job doesn’t work out as planned.

“Also, make sure you understand what kind of help, if any, your new employer is prepared to give you for moving costs. ”

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