TY  - JOUR
A1  - Malik, Aman
A1  - Bertram, Christoph
A1  - Kriegler, Elmar
A1  - Luderer, Gunnar
T1  - Climate policy accelerates structural changes in energy employment
JF  - Energy policy
N2  - The employment implications of decarbonizing the energy sector have received far less attention than the technology dimension of the transition, although being of critical importance to policymakers. In this work, we adapt a methodology based on employment factors to project future changes in quantity and composition of direct energy supply jobs for two scenarios - (1) relatively weak emissions reductions as pledged in the nationally determined contributions (NDC) and (2) stringent reductions compatible with the 1.5 °C target. We find that in the near-term the 1.5°C-compatible scenario results in a net increase in jobs through gains in solar and wind jobs in construction, installation, and manufacturing, despite significant losses in coal fuel supply; eventually leading to a peak in total direct energy jobs in 2025. In the long run, improvements in labour productivity lead to a decrease of total direct energy employment compared to today, however, total jobs are still higher in a 1.5 °C than in an NDC scenario. Operation and maintenance jobs dominate future jobs, replacing fuel supply jobs. The results point to the need for active policies aimed at retraining, both inside and outside the renewable energy sector, to complement climate policies within the concept of a “just transition”.
KW  - energy supply
KW  - employment
KW  - just transition
KW  - political feasibility
KW  - mitigation pathways
KW  - integrated assessment models
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112642
SN  - 0301-4215
VL  - 159
PB  - Elsevier Science
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  -