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Natural Disasters and the Green Occupational Aspirations of Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas F. Buehler
  • Patrick Lehnert
  • Harald Pfeifer

Abstract

We examine whether exposure to climate change-related natural disasters is associated with adolescents' aspirations to work in green occupation. Understanding adolescents' aspirations for such occupations is crucial for ensuring a workforce with green skills to contribute to the mitigation of climate change. Combining individual-level data on occupational aspirations, job task data for measuring the greenness of occupations, and administrative data on disaster events, we find that adolescents who were exposed to a natural disaster aspire to occupations with a higher percentage of green job tasks. The result of this exposure is stronger for individuals who are more environmentally aware or more likely to believe that environmental issues will improve.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas F. Buehler & Patrick Lehnert & Harald Pfeifer, 2026. "Natural Disasters and the Green Occupational Aspirations of Adolescents," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0254, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    • Handle: RePEc:iso:educat:0254
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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