Green jobs are outpacing other parts of California 's economy, but the burgeoning sector remains a tiny fraction of the Golden State 's overall employment picture.

The "green" sector grew at a 3% clip from 2008 to 2009, according to a report released Wednesday by Next 10, a San Mateo, Calif.-based independent research organization. Overall employment grew by 1% during that time, the group's findings show.

But core "green economy" jobs totaled 174,000 in 2009, or 0.9% of California 's overall 18.8 million jobs. Still, the green-sector growth outpaced such high-paying sectors as biotech and software during the height of the recession.

Next 10, founded by venture capitalist F. Noel Perry, defines green businesses as those that provide alternative energy, specialize in conserving energy and natural resources, and are geared toward reducing pollution and recycling.

"While green job numbers are modest relative to the overall economy, there are very few business sectors in a state as large as California that employ people across every region," Perry said in a press release.

The study, titled "Many Shades of Green," contends that green jobs have grown 57% since 1995, while overall employment has risen 18% during that time. Software job growth has been strong in the last decade and half, nearly doubling. But biotech has grown at a relative snail's pace when compared with green jobs, rising 8% since 1995.

The strongest growth in green jobs has been in the San Francisco Bay area, with 109% growth since 1995, the study said. The region is home to 28% of the jobs in the sector. Second in that statistic is the Sacramento area, where green jobs grew by 103%.

In Los Angeles , green employment is up by just 20% since 1995, but it still comprises 23% of the sector's jobs in the state.

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