Spain to gain from growth in green jobs
An ILO-sponsored report shows that the green economy can help Spain beat the jobs crisis. The challenge is putting in place the right types of policies.
GENEVA (ILO News) – Transitioning to a green economy has a huge potential to create new jobs in Spain at a time when the crisis-hit country is reeling from a 50 per cent youth unemployment rate, according to a newly released report.
However, the report titled Green Jobs for Sustainable Development – The case of Spain, says the severity of the recession, coupled with the austerity measures adopted to counter it, are threatening the creation of green jobs.
This will have “an important impact on employment and growth”, it adds.
At present, there are between 400,000 and 500,000 green jobs in Spain, an estimate which is equivalent to about 2.2 per cent of the country’s total employment. The green economy contributes an estimated € 25 billion per year, or 2.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The report – produced by Sustainlabour, with technical assistance from the ILO –stresses that creating green jobs can actually help beat the recession.
It cites figures from the Observatory on Sustainability in Spain (OSE) and the Biodiversity Foundation (FB), which indicate that more than 1 million green jobs could be created in Spain by 2020, depending on the level of policy support for those sectors which have a high potential to reactivate the economy.
“The green economy presents a good opportunity to increase competitiveness, promote the creation of quality employment and reduce the economy’s environmental impact,” says Joaquín Nieto, who heads the ILO Office in Madrid. “This is particularly relevant at a time when Spain needs to kick-start its economy.”
Recent studies have shown that green sectors in Europe have weathered the recession better than others by retaining more jobs. Earlier this year, the European Commission remarked that jobs growth in the eco-industry averaged 2.7 per cent a year from 2000 to 2008, compared to 1 per cent in the total economy.
For more information, please contact Patrick Moser, ILO press officer at g12dcomm@ilo.org or tel: +41(0)22/799-6348 or communication@ilo.org - Tel: +41(0)22/799-7912
However, the report titled Green Jobs for Sustainable Development – The case of Spain, says the severity of the recession, coupled with the austerity measures adopted to counter it, are threatening the creation of green jobs.
Outlook on the growth of green jobs in various sectors |
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At present, there are between 400,000 and 500,000 green jobs in Spain, an estimate which is equivalent to about 2.2 per cent of the country’s total employment. The green economy contributes an estimated € 25 billion per year, or 2.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The report – produced by Sustainlabour, with technical assistance from the ILO –stresses that creating green jobs can actually help beat the recession.
It cites figures from the Observatory on Sustainability in Spain (OSE) and the Biodiversity Foundation (FB), which indicate that more than 1 million green jobs could be created in Spain by 2020, depending on the level of policy support for those sectors which have a high potential to reactivate the economy.
“The green economy presents a good opportunity to increase competitiveness, promote the creation of quality employment and reduce the economy’s environmental impact,” says Joaquín Nieto, who heads the ILO Office in Madrid. “This is particularly relevant at a time when Spain needs to kick-start its economy.”
Recent studies have shown that green sectors in Europe have weathered the recession better than others by retaining more jobs. Earlier this year, the European Commission remarked that jobs growth in the eco-industry averaged 2.7 per cent a year from 2000 to 2008, compared to 1 per cent in the total economy.
The ILO defines green jobs as “decent jobs that reduce consumption of energy and raw materials, limit greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste and pollution, and protect and restore ecosystems”. It says that a comprehensive policy approach is essential to ensure that the momentum towards a greener economy is sustained. This requires incentives and support for companies, the extension of social protection, income support and skills training measures for workers and social dialogue involving employers and trade unions. |
For more information, please contact Patrick Moser, ILO press officer at g12dcomm@ilo.org or tel: +41(0)22/799-6348 or communication@ilo.org - Tel: +41(0)22/799-7912