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How the green sector can generate 3.3 million new jobs for Africa by 2030
Shortlist and FSD Africa , with analysis from the Boston Consulting Group , published Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa , a first of its kind report that forecasts the new direct job creation potential of 12 green sub-sectors by 2030 . The report predicts the creation of up to 3.3 million new direct green jobs across the continent by 2030 , with the majority in the renewable energy sector , particularly solar .
The study , the first in-depth analysis of workforce needs within major green value chains over the next five years , provides detailed forecasts for five focus countries , Democratic Republic of Congo , Ethiopia , Kenya , Nigeria and South Africa , which together account for more than a fifth , 22 % of new jobs , and in key sectors such as renewable energy , e-mobility , agriculture , construction and manufacturing .
Based on the findings , the report also outlines key strategies required to cultivate Africa ’ s green jobs ecosystem : from targeted investments in high-potential sectors and value chains , the fostering of crosssector collaboration among governments , private sector , educational institutions and investors , to the development of comprehensive support policies for green sectors .
The report also calls for further analysis and granularity to labour demand key value chains to identify Africa ’ s current skilled labour supply and any potential gaps .
While some experts have suggested that up to 100 million green jobs may be created by 2050 , this report takes a more near-term , sober , and realistic look at the job creation potential of just 12 specific sub-sectors or value chains and only until 2030 .
Significantly it predicts that 60 % of the employment generated by the green economy over the coming six years will be skilled or white collar in nature . Within this , 10 % constitute advanced jobs , highly skilled , requiring university degrees to fulfil , whilst a further 30 % are projected to be specialised , requiring certification or vocational training and 20 % will be administrative in emphasis .
• South Africa , Kenya and Nigeria represent the highest job creation potential , 16 % due to population , gross domestic product , GDP and industry maturity
• The renewable energy sector alone is expected to generate up to 2m jobs , 70 % of the total of which 1.7m will be in solar
• Solar is the most important contributor to green jobs in South Africa , 140,000 jobs and Kenya , 111,000 jobs
• Hydroelectric is forecast to be the leading employer in both DRC , 16,000 jobs and Ethiopia , 33,000
• Agriculture and nature are forecast to produce up to 700,000 jobs , 25 % of total , of which more than half , 377,000 will come from climate smart agriculture technology
South Africa
• Between 85,000 to 275,000 new green jobs are forecast by 2030 – mainly in energy and power production , and agriculture and nature
• The solar sector leads job creation in South Africa with 140,000 jobs projected
Nigeria
• Nigeria predicted to put on between 60,000 and 240,000 new green jobs by 2030
• Aquaculture and poultry lead job creation , with 69,000 jobs projected
Kenya
• Kenya predicted to put on between 40,000 to 240,000 green jobs by 2030
• The solar sector leads this job creation , with estimates that it will generate 111,000 jobs in the country by the decade ’ s end
Ethiopia
• Ethiopia will see between 30,000 and 130,000 new green jobs by 2030 , mainly in energy and power production
• Hydropower generation leads as a job-creating sector , with 33,000 jobs projected
22 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com