Just Coal Transition in Western Macedonia, Greece-Insights from the Labor Market

Luc Christiaensen and Céline Ferré

No 32547274, Jobs Group Papers, Notes, and Guides from The World Bank

Abstract: This report analyzes the consequences for the labor force of Western Macedonia’s (Greece) decarbonization as part of Europe’s new Green Deal. Already, the region records the highest unemployment rate of the country (27 percent in 2018). A survey of contractors suggests that about 16,000 jobs could potentially be affected by the closure of the mines (about 4,500 directly in coal and power production and another 11,000-11,500 indirectly supplying goods and services). It mainly concerns older and less educated, but medium-skilled workers. Many do not expect much of a future in Western Macedonia, with most of the better-skilled seeing themselves move to other regions. But much will also depend on the coal transition path chosen, including the timing and labor intensity of the power plant decommissioning and land reclamation plans, as well as those of the new alternative activities promoted. Timely consultations with the workers affected will also be critical.

Keywords: Mining; Program for International Student; Power Generation; active labor market program; employee will re; Primary and Secondary Education; purchase of goods and services; passive labor market policies; Technical and Vocational Education; passive labor market program; information on labor market; Below the Poverty Line; unemployment rate; health and safety issue; low levels of education; input-output table; female-headed household; firm survey; high unemployment rate; mine closure; old-age dependency ratio; net migration rate; labor market forecast; transmission and distribution; youth dependency ratio; production of electricity; level of employment; internal combustion engine; average monthly wage; lower educational attainment; employment and unemployment; number of jobs; risk of poverty; power generation sector; lignite mining; social security benefit; regular unemployment benefit; regional general equilibrium; electric power generation; expansion of education; public works program; labor market need; future skills need; improvement in literacy; local government capacity; maintenance and repair; local labor market; labor market requirement; young adult women; labor force participation; share of revenue; provision of service; working age population; wage subsidy program; literacy and numeracy; social assistance program; demand for labor; construction of road; coal power plant; local private sector; secondary vocational education; net job creation; barriers to employment; youth in general; average unemployment rate; high poverty rate; child care worker; labor market entry; investments by individual; labor market information; skill mismatch; new job; total employment; industrial sector; recent years; economic crisis; retail trade; focus group; electronic equipment; labor intensity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42
Date: 2020-10-31
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