Decarbonizing the US power system presents diverse challenges and opportunities in the changing employment landscape

Xie, Judy Jingwei; Martin, Melissa; Rogelj, Joeri; Staffell, Iain

doi:https://www.dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2402526/v1

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Decarbonizing_the_US_power_system_presents_diverse.pdf (2.18 MB)

Preprint version

Author(s)

Xie, Judy Jingwei

Martin, Melissa

Rogelj, Joeri

Staffell, Iain

Type

preprint

Abstract

The transition towards a low-carbon power system presents immense challenges and opportunities to the workforce. Studies of the energy transition’s regional and distributional employment impacts are mainly qualitative or disconnected from prevailing energy modeling scenarios. Here, we couple a power sector optimization model, an employment impact model, and demographic databases to further understand the state-level job characteristics and societal implications in the US. Major fossil fuel producers risk job losses even without new emission reduction policies, requiring the reskilling of up to 30% of the current workforce. The results highlight the need for investments in human capital and a supply chain restructuring. Blue-collar workers are crucial to delivering the transition. Expanding renewable energy could improve job opportunities for women in states dependent on fossil fuels, but not enough to disrupt the national status quo. This work sets a new quantitative perspective to inform proactive local Just Transition policymaking.