More than 13% of jobs in Portugal are Green, of which 5.7% show a rising demand for professions that do not require additional skills and 5.9% concern emerging professions that require upskilling.
A new study on Green Jobs in Portugal, that was launched by researchers of the University of Minho and by the Centro de Relações Laborais (CRL), investigated the Portuguese context in 2019 compared to other regions. It is expected that there will be a rising trend for Green Jobs that do not require more skills due to rising demand in existing sectors and to the on-going decarbonization process in Portugal. In addition to existing professions, there will be demand for emerging professions linked to the transition towards a low-carbon economy.
Within the EU, Green Jobs for both goods and services increased by 43% between 2000 and 2019, rising from 3.2 million full-time workers to 4.5 million, that is an increase from 1.7% to 2.2% of total employment according to EUROSTAT. The Gross Value Added of the Green Economy increased by 153%, rising from EUR 129 million to EUR 326 million, that led to a GDP increase from 1.6% to 2.3%.
Recent studies have shown that, for the USA and the UK, Green Jobs account for between 15 to 20% of total employment. Green jobs require workers with more education and experience and lead to higher wages and open-ended contracts.
In Portugal, the sectors with the highest number of Green Jobs include the Electricity, Gas, Vapor and Water sector with 40% of jobs being Green in 2019, as well as the Construction sector with 26% of jobs being Green and the Transport and Storage sector with 25% of jobs being Green. Demand for jobs in the Electricity, Gas, Vapor and Water sector is rising by 23%, in the Manufacturing sector by 13% and in the Construction sector by 11%.
Green Jobs in new and emerging professions are mostly in the Electricity, Gas, Vapor and Water sector with 7% of jobs, in the Construction sector with 6% of jobs and in the Consulting, Scientific and Technical sector with 3% of jobs.
In Portugal, there is a regional concentration of Green Jobs, namely in the Central region, in the Alentejo region and in the North, showing that these regions are specializing in the Manufacturing, Construction and Energy sectors, with policies for the energy transition and climate change.
The ongoing decarbonization process in Portugal is not a neutral process in terms of impact on the economy and on employment. Investments in new economic sectors, in new sources of energy, in new means of mobility as well as in extending best practices for the circular economy will lead to a rising demand for existing as well as for new professions.
#greeneconomyportugal #greenjobsportugal #UniversidadedoMinho #CentrodeRelaçõesLaborais #greennewsportugal #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews