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Estimating the Green Potential of Occupations: A New Approach Applied to the U.S. Labor Market

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  • Rutzer, Christian
  • Niggli, Matthias
  • Weder, Rolf

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach to estimate the green potential of occupations. Using data from O*NET on the skills that workers possess and the tasks they carry out, we train several machine learning algorithms to predict the green potential of U.S. occupations classified according to the 6-digit Standard Occupational Classication. Our methodology allows existing discrete classications of occupations to be extended to a continuum of classes. This improves the analysis of heterogeneous occupations in terms of their green potential. Our approach makes two contributions to the literature. First, as it more accurately ranks occupations in terms of their green potential, it leads to a better understanding of the extent to which a given workforce is prepared to cope with a transition to a green economy. Second, it allows for a more accurate analysis of differences between workforces across regions. We use U.S. occupational employment data to highlight both aspects.

Suggested Citation

  • Rutzer, Christian & Niggli, Matthias & Weder, Rolf, 2020. "Estimating the Green Potential of Occupations: A New Approach Applied to the U.S. Labor Market," Working papers 2020/03, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    • Handle: RePEc:bsl:wpaper:2020/03
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francesco Vona & Giovanni Marin & Davide Consoli & David Popp, 2018. "Environmental Regulation and Green Skills: An Empirical Exploration," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 5(4), pages 713-753.
    2. Autor, David, 2013. "The "task approach" to labor markets : an overview," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 46(3), pages 185-199.
    3. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/1fkb59dcsg9alqqq6qv18jj5us is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Simon, Noah & Friedman, Jerome H. & Hastie, Trevor & Tibshirani, Rob, 2011. "Regularization Paths for Cox's Proportional Hazards Model via Coordinate Descent," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 39(i05).
    5. Cristina Martinez-Fernandez & Carlos Hinojosa & Gabriela Miranda, 2010. "Greening Jobs and Skills: Labour Market Implications of Addressing Climate Change," OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers 2010/2, OECD Publishing.
    6. Consoli, Davide & Marin, Giovanni & Marzucchi, Alberto & Vona, Francesco, 2016. "Do green jobs differ from non-green jobs in terms of skills and human capital?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(5), pages 1046-1060.
    7. Bowen, Alex & Kuralbayeva, Karlygash & Tipoe, Eileen L., 2018. "Characterising green employment: The impacts of ‘greening’ on workforce composition," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 263-275.
    8. Bowen, Alex & Kuralbayeva, Karlygash & Tipoe, Eileen L., 2018. "Characterising green employment: The impacts of ‘greening’ on workforce composition," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 263-275.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lobsiger, Michael & Rutzer, Christian, 2021. "Jobs with green potential in Switzerland: Demand and possible skills shortages," Working papers 2021/01, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    2. Michael Lobsiger & Christian Rutzer, 2021. "The green potential of occupations in Switzerland," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 157(1), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Jonathan Colmer & Eva Lyubich & John Voorheis, 2025. "Nice work if you can get it? The distribution of employment and earnings during the early years of the clean energy transition," CEP Discussion Papers dp2127, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    4. E. Mark Curtis & Ioana Marinescu, 2023. "Green Energy Jobs in the United States: What Are They, and Where Are They?," Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(1), pages 202-237.
    5. Lobsiger, Michael & Rutzer, Christian, 2021. "Green potential of Europe's labour force: Relative share and possible skills imbalances," Working papers 2021/04, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    6. Rutzer, Christian & Niggli, Matthias, 2020. "Environmental Policy and Heterogeneous Labor Market Effects: Evidence from Europe," Working papers 2020/09, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects

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