Jobs in the renewable energy field in Hawaii are expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall work force, surpassing 14,000 positions by 2012, according to a new study.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said there are 11,145 so-called green jobs in the private sector representing 2.4 percent of total employment. That number is forecast to grow by 26 percent through the next two years, reaching 14,048, or 2.9 percent of total employment, the department said.

"For the purposes of this report we consider a green job to be one that engages in economic activity that makes a positive impact on the environment or energy sustainability, either on a full- or part-time basis," according to the report released yesterday.

The 74-page report was paid for by $1.2 million in federal stimulus funds provided to the state last December under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funds paid for three full-time and two part-time positions for 18 months, as well as other program costs, including licensing rights for software.

One of the challenges in putting the report together was to define what exactly constitutes a "green" job, the department said. The department said it looked at criteria used by other states, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Workforce Information Council.

State and county officials hope to use the information in the report to help job seekers find employment or training in green industries, the department said.

Of the growth in green jobs, the biggest increases are expected in solar panel and insulation installers, the report said. Green jobs were identified in 203 occupations across 19 major industry groups. About 65 percent of the green jobs were found in three major industries: construction, professional services and waste management and remediation services.

Community colleges and trade schools meet 62 percent of the education and training requirements for green jobs, the report found.

"Ultimately the Hawaii Green Jobs Survey aims to lay the foundation upon which future initiatives can be built. Rather than being a terminus, it is the starting point from which the state of Hawaii can structure future endeavors that facilitate the expansion of green industries across the islands," the report said.

Researchers surveyed 4,000 work sites from May to July, representing a 44 percent response rate. The report can be viewed at www.GreenJobsHawaii.org.