Where the jobs are -- or where they will be in the suburbs

The computer revolution drove us out of the recession in the early '90s. The burst in the housing market pushed us through the faltering economy in 2001. Experts believe energy will be the answer this time around.

"In every recession, there are certain areas that lead the way," said John Challenger, of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement company. Energy jobs, especially at companies stepping up their environmental initiatives, are expected to provide future economic growth.

So if you're in the job market or considering switching careers this Labor Day, there are certain careers expected to see growth first.

Leading sectors best poised to bring us out of the recession will be health care, global business and education, Challenger said. He believes another growth area may be government infrastructure and jobs that come from the stimulus. For example, we'll need construction workers to build the roads as well as civil engineers and architects to design them.

Some areas, including health care, have remained strong and haven't taken a hit with the downturn in the economy. And as things pick up, there should be additional growth. "We have been consistently recruiting, especially nurses," said Bonnie Kriescher, vice president of human resources for Advocate Medical Group.

The need for nurses is expected to grow considerably as the population continues to age. The average age of nurses today is 45 to 47, Kriescher said. When these nurses leave the work force, there will be even more positions to fill. Physical therapists, primary care physicians and medical coding jobs are expected to see continued growth.

Kriescher also points out that teachers to train these medical professionals are also in great demand.

Retirement and lack of new trainees have produced a teachers shortage in some areas. The chronic shortages are in math and science, special education and English as a second language. Schools in high poverty urban areas, where turnover is high, and in rural locations traditionally see the most openings.

Experts believe the largest sector to see job openings will be companies stepping up their environmental initiatives. This could mean a boom in "green-collar" jobs, according to Challenger.

A recent forecast by the American Solar Energy Society found that renewable energy and energy-efficient industries were responsible for the creation of about 8.5 million jobs in 2006, and by 2030 that number is expected to reach 40 million.

Warrenville-based Coskata is one of those companies expecting huge growth in the burgeoning ethanol industry.

"We see the potential for thousands of jobs per facility, or a total of 1.5 million green jobs," said Wes Bolsen, Coskata chief marketing officer. "Most people are considering biofuels as the major growth arm," he said.

His company's new technology uses wood chips, garbage, old tires and other materials to make fuel. The facilities would be built on former cornfields.

The firm is now hiring micro chemical engineers. Future job growth will come in constructing the facilities, Bolsen said.

Challenger agrees. The demand for "green-collar" jobs is exploding, especially as the cost of energy continues to climb.

Other popular jobs connected to this sector include urban planners, forest tree professionals and environmental lawyers.

"It's all about renewable energy. It's about entirely new growth in this country," Bolsen said.

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