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Estimating the Green Wage Premium

Author

Listed:
  • Kuai, Wenjing

    (Hunan University)

  • Elliott, Robert J. R.

    (University of Birmingham)

  • Okubo, Toshihiro

    (Keio University)

  • Ozgen, Ceren

    (University of Birmingham)

Abstract

To address climate change concerns, Japan is accelerating the greening of its economy. In this paper we analyze the characteristics of the workers that are contributing to the green transition and estimate the so-called green wage premium. Using propriety data from a recent worker-level survey for Japan, we provide a continuous measure of the degree to which a job can be considered green and document how green jobs are different from non-green jobs by sector, occupation and different demographics. Our structural model estimates of a green wage premium show that the hourly wage of green workers is 7.3% higher on average than non-green work- ers. A 10% increase in the green intensity of a job is shown to increase average hourly wages by 0.8%. Decomposition results suggest that the explainable part of the wage premium is largely due to task differences, gender disparities (in lower percentiles), and occupation. The unexplained part of the green wage premium are found mainly in high-paying green jobs where certain characteristics appear to be better rewarded, possibly driven by supply and demand imbalances.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuai, Wenjing & Elliott, Robert J. R. & Okubo, Toshihiro & Ozgen, Ceren, 2025. "Estimating the Green Wage Premium," IZA Discussion Papers 17878, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17878
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    JEL classification:

    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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