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From Polluting to Green Jobs: A Seamless Transition in the U.S.?
Author:
Katharina Bergant null

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Rui Mano
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Mr. Ippei Shibata null

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Series:
IMF Working Papers
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2022: Issue 129
Language:
English
Publication Date:
01 Jul 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400215094.001
ISBN:
9798400215094
ISSN:
1018-5941
Pages:
36
Keywords:
Green and polluting employment; Green Labor Market Transition; Environmental Regulation; IMF working paper Western Hemisphere department; green job; polluting employment; polluting job; Employment; Environmental policy; Labor markets; Wages; Global
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What are the implications of the needed climate transition for the potential reallocation of the U.S. labor force? This paper dissects green and polluting jobs in the United States across local labor markets, industries and at the household-level. We find that geography alone is not a major impediment, but green jobs tend to be systematically different than those that are either neutral or in carbon-emitting industries. Transitioning out of pollution-intensive jobs into green jobs may thus pose some challenges. However, there is a wage premium for green-intensive jobs which should encourage such transitions. To gain further insights into the impending green transition, this paper also studies the impact of the Clean Air Act. We find that the imposition of the Act caused workers to shift from pollution-intensive to greener industries, but overall employment was not affected.
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Cover IMF Working Papers
IMF Working Papers
ISSN:
1018-5941
Publisher:
International Monetary Fund