Analysis of green occupations: The local government sector perspective
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Subtitle: Research Report To The Local Government Sector Education and Training (LGSETA)
Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US)
Publication year: 2017
Journal: Work and Occupations (0730-8884)
ISSN: 0730-8884
eISSN: 1552-8464
Languages: English-United States (EN-US)
Abstract
The idea of green economy (GE) has gained an increasing international focus, with new strategies, policies and discussions aimed at ways of restructuring the economy in a direction that is environmentally friendly, which is currently taking place in several countries. Greeneconomy can be defined as one that results in improved human wellbeing and social equity,while significantly reducing environmental risk and ecological scarcities. Green occupations,which result from GE, are jobs that promote preservation or restoration of environmental quality. A transition to GE therefore, offers an opportunity for economic renewal,environmental protection and the potential for job creation. Creation of green occupations from the greening of technologies and economies is imperative in responding to the high globalunemployment rate and towards improving the working conditions of the already employed. South Africa’s workforce is faced with two major challenges: high unemployment and significant differences in the welfare and income between the highly paid and low-skilled employees. Under South Africa’s new development policy (the New Growth path), ofimportance is the target of job creation. Despite the large number of GE strategies and policiesin place, the country does not report green occupations individually in any of its surveys orstatistics of employment.A study was carried to analyse existing and potential green occupations, and identify greenqualifications and skills necessary for the development of green economy practices. The studywas carried out within the context of the role of local governments in the adoption of green economy strategy, leading to the creation of green jobs in the water and wastewater treatment sector, in selected local governments across the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The studyassessed the capability of local governments to effectively play the role of creating access totraining and skills development. The research was conducted across all the provinces of the RSA within a period of six months by a team of researchers from the Vaal University of Technology. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were implemented, and both national and regional data were used. A total of 96 water and wastewater treatment plants in 55 different local and metropolitan municipalities were surveyed. The strides made in creatinggreen occupations in local governments both locally and globally were analysed from available literature and comparisons made. This project identified green occupations in the local government sector, and carried out a green skills audit of employees in various wastewater treatment plants. This study brought into perspective the concept of green occupations in local government, with focus on jobs in water and wastewater treatment
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