The jobs of the future are in Green and Blue economies

Some 140,000 people are expected to be employed in these two fields by 2027, with and government officials feeling confident that the development of the two sectors will have a boosting effect on the island’s economy as it tries to recover from the economic crisis of five 6years ago, with unemployment still just over 9%, far from the ‘full employment’ benchmark of 3%.

One out of five people is expected to be employed in the Green Economy, while one in ten will be making his or her livelihood in the Blue economy, according to studies prepared by the Human Resource Development Authority of the country (HRDA).

As far as employment in sectors of economic activity with participation in the green economy, the HRDA report shows that an upward trend is expected during the period 20172027. As a result, in 2027, some 98,988 persons or around one out of five employed persons will be in green economy sectors. The yearly estimated needs of the green economy are expected to reach 3,583 persons or 4.1% on an annual basis, which corresponds to 22.7% of total employment demand for the economy.

Meanwhile, total employment in the blue economy during the 2016-2026 period is also predicted to exhibit an upward trend, according to another HRDA survey. As a result, in 2026, some 40.518 persons or around one out of ten employed persons will be in the blue economy. Total employment demand is estimated at 1,900 persons or 5.4% per year which corresponds to 14.3% of total employment demand .

Ioanna Panayiotou, Commissioner for the Environment, said the future of the economy can go down only one road and that is the green one. She explained that as the green economy grows, new investments will be made and new job openings generated.

“Turning towards a greener economy does not mean that employment will be hit. Quite the contrary, investments are expected to be enhanced, making way for new job openings, while at the same time some traditional professions may be transformed to become greener. For example, an electrician can adapt his trade with the construction of more efficient electrical systems and can provide advice to home owners on how to make their households more energy efficient” said Panayiotou.

While stressing that even the tourist industry can become greener, Panayiotou said that a green economy would mean the creation of new professions.

“As the UN Environment Programme states, there will be a need for engineers working on the production and management of clean energy, engineers and technicians at water treatment plants, waste management and more,” she explained.

The commissioner added that by switching to a greener economy, new products will enter our lives, giving as example the plastic bag which is to be replaced by reusable or biodegradable bags, thus creating new fields for investment and job opportunities.

She said that moving towards a sustainable resourceefficient, knowledge-based and innovative resource-based economic growth model is one of the European Union’s main strategic goals.

“It’s one of the three priority pillars of the Europe 2020 strategy. An essential prerequisite for achieving its goals is the availability of properly trained human resources, with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities,” commented Panayiotou, who added that “the fact that 20% of our energy by 2020, and 27% by 2027 has to be produced from renewable energy means that there will be a serious need in infrastructure”.

According to the HRDA report, the majority of employed persons in the green economy will be active in the scientific and technical activities sectors with their number exhibiting a significant upward trend. Over one out of three employed persons in the green economy will be employed in this sector, which also exhibits the largest annual total employment demand with 1,476 persons or 5.2% during the period 2017-2027.

Construction is the second largest green economic sector, also exhibiting a significant upward trend. The sector is gradually recovering, the forecast being that one out of five employed persons of the green economy will be working in this sector, with the annual total employment demand reaching 649 persons or 3.5%. The commissioner said that in order for Cyprus to be in line with EU environmental goals set for 2020, all construction built after 2020 will have to be of almost zero energy consumption.

Regarding professions with indirect participation in the green economy, the majority will work as technicians. Specifically, their number will increase from 20,636 persons in 2017 to 24,643 in 2027, registering an increase of 19,4%.

Speaking on behalf of the HRDA, Constantinos Panayiotou said that the authority has suggested that the Ministry of Education take the report on the needs of the green economy into consideration when planning the schools’ curriculum.

“We as HRDA, have put forward a series of seminars and training programmes since 2011 with great success. An estimated 19,000 people have taken part in the programmes which have received a total of EUR 15.6 mln financing,” said Constantinos Panayiotou, who aded that the green economy is expected to change the face of the economy. “That is why we need to prepare the human resource which will be able to respond to these new needs,” he concluded.

According to the HRDA report some 1,900 persons are to be employed in sectors of the blue economy. This represents a 5.4% growth per year.

The vast majority of blue jobs will continue to be in maritime and coastal tourism showing a significant upward trend. Eight out of ten employed persons in the blue economy are to be in this sector, reflecting the considerable importance of tourism to the blue economy. This sector will exhibit the highest total employment demand with 1,615 persons or 5.6% per year during the 2016-2026 period which corresponds to 85% of total employment demand of the blue economic sectors.

The second biggest blue economic sector, also exhibiting a significant upward trend, is maritime transport. Some 17% of employed persons of the blue economy will be working in this sector. Total employment demand will reach 253 persons or 4.3% per year during the 2016-2026 period (13% of total employment demand of the blue economic sectors).

Angelos Menelaou, head of the Maritime Studies Department at Frederick University, told the Financial Mirror, that the future of the blue economy is quite bright, especially if one is to consider the geographical positioning and the geopolitical importance of the island.

“Cyprus is very close to the Suez Canal, which coupled with the undergoing upgrading of the ports due to the privatisation programme, can open up the door to new investments and new jobs,” he said. Furthermore, the island should take full advantage of its geographical location and work towards become a cruise centre and a cargo redistribution hub.

The Frederick professor also added that as various projects in the Mediterranean regarding natural gas and other interconnection projects get underway, there will be the need for marine engineers.

He stressed that both the Education Ministry and higher education institutions should take this into account when preparing their study programmes. Menelaou, a strong