One World

Project: Preparation of the SA country report: Skills for green jobs for the ILO

Location: South Africa

Client: International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Timeline: May 2009—March 2010

Description: The Green Jobs Initiative is a joint initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Employers Organisation (IOE) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). This initiative aims to assess, analyze and promote the creation of decent and environmentally sustainable jobs in a climate-challenged world. In this context, the ILO with the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) are conducting research into skill needs for greener economies, with respect to greening existing occupations, and identifying new and changing  occupational profiles as well as skills and occupations that become obsolete. OneWorld was commissioned to prepare the South Africa country study.

The study looked at the South African economy and identified those sectors which are likely to see changes due to the global push for green economies. The analysis combines existing data on skills shortages, estimates of demand for green occupations, and case studies where specific sectors have experienced elements of greening. The result is a set of recommendations and an institutional framework that aims to promote green skills throughout the country.