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From Coal to Chlorophyll. Identifying Green Job Opportunities for Youth during South Africa’s Just Transition

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Hill
  • Leigh Neethling
  • Morné Oosthuizen

    (Development Policy Research Unit, University of Cape Town)

Abstract

In an attempt to mitigate their effect on climate change, a number of economies have already, or are in the process of shifting away from a reliance on coal-based power. This just energy transition means that many existing jobs in the coal industry will be lost in favour of so-called “green jobs”, which aim to contribute positively and sustainably to the environment. South Africa is one such economy that is embarking on the process of a just transition. But, given that the coal industry is predominantly represented by young people in the province of Mpumalanga, it is not clear how or if this vulnerable group will transition into newly created green jobs. Making use of occupational relatedness metrics, this research investigates the feasibility of green job opportunities to capture displaced youth in Mpumalanga, depending on their employment history. Results of this desktop study – which forms part of a larger cross-country study funded and led by the University of Cambridge – suggest that green jobs are relatively different to the existing experience and task competences of young people, and thus some form of reskilling programme is likely to be necessary for young people to take full advantage of the employment opportunities offered by green jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Hill & Leigh Neethling & Morné Oosthuizen, 2024. "From Coal to Chlorophyll. Identifying Green Job Opportunities for Youth during South Africa’s Just Transition," Working Papers 202406, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
  • Handle: RePEc:ctw:wpaper:202406
    as

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    File URL: https://commerce.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/commerce_uct_ac_za/1093/dpru-wp202406.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guillermo MONTT & Kirsten S. WIEBE & Marek HARSDORFF & Moana SIMAS & Antoine BONNET & Richard WOOD, 2018. "Does climate action destroy jobs? An assessment of the employment implications of the 2‐degree goal," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 157(4), pages 519-556, December.
    2. C. A. Hidalgo & B. Klinger & A. -L. Barabasi & R. Hausmann, 2007. "The Product Space Conditions the Development of Nations," Papers 0708.2090, arXiv.org.
    3. Elizabeth Ruppert Bulmer & Kevwe Pela & Andreas Eberhard-Ruiz & Jimena Montoya, 2021. "Global Perspective on Coal Jobs and Managing Labor Transition out of Coal," World Bank Publications - Reports 37118, The World Bank Group.
    4. Joel Kolker & Anton Eberhard & James Leigland, 2014. "South Africa's Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Program : Success Factors and Lessons," World Bank Publications - Reports 20039, The World Bank Group.
    5. World Bank, 2017. "South Africa Economic Update, January 2017," World Bank Publications - Reports 25971, The World Bank Group.
    6. Hausmann, Ricardo & Hidalgo, Cesar, 2014. "The Atlas of Economic Complexity: Mapping Paths to Prosperity," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262525429, December.
    7. World Bank, 2017. "South Africa Economic Update, September 2017," World Bank Publications - Reports 28439, The World Bank Group.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Just transition; green jobs; youth employment; occupational relatedness; Mpumalanga;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General

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