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Quantifying Green Job Potential in Colombia: A Task-Based Approach

Author

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  • Becerra, Oscar

    (Universidad de los Andes)

  • Piñeros, Juana

    (Universidad de los Andes)

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the green transition on the Colombian labor market. Using a task-based approach and data from the 2022 Colombian Household Survey, we find that approximately 22.6% of Colombian employment is linked to green tasks, with 15.9% directly affected by the green transition. While these figures are in line with global estimates, most jobs will not change significantly. Green jobs are concentrated among men, urban residents, and higher-educated workers with STEM degrees in managerial roles, who also earn more and are located at the top of the income distribution. In addition, the tasks and skills of occupations of workers with a lower prevalence of jobs limit their mobility to green jobs. This suggests a need for targeted training programs to facilitate the transition of non-green workers to green occupations, given the limited transferability of skills between these types of jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Becerra, Oscar & Piñeros, Juana, 2024. "Quantifying Green Job Potential in Colombia: A Task-Based Approach," Documentos CEDE 21270, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
  • Handle: RePEc:col:000089:021270
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Green jobs; energy transition; task-based approach; Colombia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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