WIREDGOV

Andor said: "The OECD report confirms that green growth will be one of the most important drivers of structural change in our economy. The report also stresses the importance of the right labour market and skills policies to facilitate this transition and to maximise the benefits of green growth for workers. The OECD's in-depth analysis therefore strongly supports the approach advocated by the Commission in its April 2012 Employment Package."

The OECD study stresses that EU labour markets should be more open and dynamic and supports measures to reduce insecurity due to job displacement. It underlines the key functions of public employment services and labour market programmes.

The strategy outlined by the OECD study also includes fostering eco-innovation and green skills development through education and training and making the tax and benefit system more supportive of employment by shifting taxes away from labour and recycling tax revenues from carbon pricing.

The Commission identified the development of a green and energy efficient economy as vital for a job-rich recovery in its April Employment Package (see IP/12/380 and MEMO/12/256). The Package therefore set out action plans to boost green jobs based on tailor-made employment and skills policies that recognise the different situations in each Member State.

The Employment Package estimated the job potential from the development of the renewable energy sector at 3 million jobs by 2020, with a potential further 2 million green jobs by 2020 from the implementation of individual energy efficiency measures. Reducing the total raw material input requirements of the EU economy by 17% could create between 1.4 and 2.8 million jobs, whilst recycling 70% of key materials in the EU could create over 560,000 new jobs by 2025. Improved waste management would create over 400 000 jobs by 2020.

Link to the OECD report "The jobs potential of a shift towards a low carbon economy":

http://www.oecd.org/document/50/0,3746,en_2649_33927_50501490_1_1_1_1,00.html