Publication: Who is Most Vulnerable to the Transition Away from Coal? Ruda Śląska Residents’ Preferences Towards Jobs and Land Repurposing
Loading...
Published
2023-05-24
ISSN
Date
2023-05-24
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
After Germany, Poland is the EU’s second largest coal producer and consumer.1 96 percent of EU-27 hard coal production, or 54.4 million tons, is extracted in Poland (EURACOAL, 2020). In 2020, over 40 percent of the country’s total energy supply (TES) and 70 percent of its electricity generation come from coal and lignite (IEA, 2022), the highest rate in Europe. Coal in Poland also continues to employ about 88,000 people directly in the mines, down from about 444,000 in 1989. Europe’s commitment to stop its fossil fuel imports from Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is slowing down Poland’s coal phase-out to ensure energy security in Europe,2 but Poland remains committed to a complete coal mine closure by 2049.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Ferré, Céline; Honorati, Maddalena; Gajderowicz, Tomasz. 2023. Who is Most Vulnerable to the Transition Away from Coal? Ruda Śląska Residents’ Preferences Towards Jobs and Land Repurposing. Jobs Working Paper; Issue No.74. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/39843 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Digital Object Identifier
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Towards a Just Coal Transition Labor Market Challenges and People’s Perspectives from Wielkopolska(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-10-18)Part of a three-region set of papers analyzing coal-related labor market challenges in Poland, this paper focuses on Wielkopolska, which is most advanced in the transition out of coal. Finding viable job transitions is of enormous importance. The findings call for a more territorial-oriented approach to brokering the coal transition, rather than a sectoral one. First, even though limited from a regional perspective (4,000 workers), affected jobs are highly concentrated in a few already lagging and depopulating municipalities. Second, while coal-related workers are similarly skilled as other workers in Wielkopolska, non-coal related workers in the at-risk municipalities are substantially less skilled, exposing them to potential displacement effects. Finally, while ready to work and to be re-skilled, discrete choice experiments about their job attribute preferences show that all workers are averse both to commuting and relocating for work, even more so than in Silesia and Lower Silesia. Complementary social protection and employment support will be needed, and the paper suggests some policy options based on international experience. The paper concludes by illustrating how a big-data driven job-matching tool, calibrated on the Polish labor market, could be used to assist caseworkers in identifying “viable-job-transition-pathways” for affected workers as well as to help policymakers identify reskilling needs and attract investments.Publication Towards a Just Coal Transition Labor Market Challenges and People’s Perspectives from Silesia(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022)Part of a three-region set of papers analyzing coal-related labor market challenges in Poland, this paper focuses on Silesia. The findings call for a more territorial-oriented approach to brokering the coal transition, rather than a sectoral one. First, the number of jobs directly linked to coal-mining in Silesia is substantial, with 72,000 employees in the mining conglomerates, and an additional 17,000 providing goods and services to the mines. Second, coal-related employment is heavily concentrated geographically: as much as 40 percent of the population of Bieruńsko-Iedziński is employed directly and indirectly in the mining sector, and 80 percent of the mining conglomerates' contract value goes to subcontractors within a 20km radius of the mines. Third, the coal sector is highly integrated among a few large firms: 28 percent of the indirect workforce is employed by 10 subcontractors. Fourth, workers in the mining conglomerates have lower foundational (but better technical) skills than their regional and national counterparts, especially those with lower education. Finally, while eager to work, discrete choice experiments about their job attribute preferences show that they are averse to both, commuting and relocating for work, even though less so than in Wielkopolska, yet more so that in Lower Silesia, the two other regions. Together this suggests that there are important welfare and political economic benefits to adequate job creation locally. The paper further advances a data-driven viable-job-matching tool specifically tailored to the Polish labor market and illustrates how it could be used to assess the potential of local labor markets and future investments to absorb the coal-affected workers accounting for their skills profile, re/upskilling needs, and job attribute preferences.Publication Towards a Just Coal Transition(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022)Part of a three-region set of papers analyzing coal-related labor market challenges in Poland, this paper focuses on Lower Silesia. The findings call for a more territorial-oriented approach to brokering the coal transition, rather than a sectoral one. First, while the number of people directly and indirectly affected by coal mine closures in Lower Silesia (~5,500) is relatively small compared to the total regional labor force (<1%), affected workers are heavily concentrated geographically. Second, workers in heavily affected municipalities have lower foundational (but better technical) skills than their regional and national counterparts, and already operate in lagging local economies. Third, while eager to work, discrete choice experiments about their job attribute preferences show that they are averse to both, commuting and relocating for work, even though less so than in Silesia and Wielkopolska, the two other regions. Together this suggests that there are important welfare and political economic benefits to adequate job creation locally. The paper further advances a data-driven viable-job-matching tool specifically tailored to the Polish labor market and illustrates how it could be used to assess the potential of local labor markets and future investments to absorb the coal-affected workers accounting for their skills profile, re/upskilling needs and job attribute preferences.Publication Piloting a Machine Learning-Based Job-Matching Algorithm(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-11-20)The objective of this note is to present and discuss the findings of piloting a task-based job matching tool developed by the World Bank and implemented in partnership with the Regional Labor Office of Pomerania, Poland. The aim of the pilot was to assess whether simple ML-based tools could contribute to improve the efficiency of PES delivery and job-seeking behaviors compared to rule-based, knowledge-driven approaches. By combining labor demand data from local occupational barometers and the descriptions of tasks in the national taxonomy of occupations, the tool provides jobseekers a menu of potential jobs available in the local labor markets that match the tasks performed in previous work experiences. Results show that jobseekers were satisfied with the proposed occupations resulting from the tool (as beyond their thinking) and had the intention to expand job search efforts, though job-seeking behaviors could not be monitored. Career advisers recognized that the lack of information on jobseekers’ education, skills, and preferences limited the efficiency of the proposed job matches.Publication Options to Support Workers through a Transition away from Coal in Eastern Wielkopolska (March 2022)(World Bank, WAshington DC, 2023-05-30)The objective of this policy note is to provide an overview of the three draft project proposals and to recommend key design principles and implementation arrangement options for a coordinated outplacement program in the Eastern Wielkopolska region that would provide a package of services to motivate and help affected workers find suitable jobs in alignment with the TJTP. The focus of the note is on interventions supporting the social and labor transition in Eastern Wielkopolska, rather than the economic, spatial, and energy transformations which are also part of the JTM Pillar. Efforts to promote local economic development and environmental rehabilitation of affected subregions as well as to develop stakeholder engagement and public communication strategies are beyond the scope of this note.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Global Perspective on Coal Jobs and Managing Labor Transition out of Coal(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2021-12-01)*Note: Revised version published on March 25, 2022* The widely shared objective of transition to cleaner energy and reduced dependence on coal presents tremendous challenges, not only to coal sector producers and workers, but because of the broader implications for other sectors in coal-producing nations. A large proportion of energy infrastructure is built around coal-fired power plants (even in non-coal producing countries), economic production structures are energy-intensive, and coal value chains are long. In regions where coal mining takes place, the effects of transition cut very deeply, especially in small, remote mining communities where the local economy depends on coal. The transition can create multiple disruptions: to jobs - both direct and indirect, to household incomes, to local economies heavily tied into the coal supply chain, to community well-being and social capital, and to local and regional government capacity and fiscal solvency. This issues paper analyzes the status of coal phase-out around the world, the magnitude and character of coal mining jobs and their spillovers in local economies, and the challenges associated with future labor transition. This report is part of a broader multi-sector effort by the World Bank to support coal regions confronting the realities of decarbonization and help lay the groundwork for achieving a just transition for all.Publication Towards Sustainable Decommissioning and Closure of Oil Fields and Mines : A Toolkit to Assist Government Agencies(Washington, DC, 2010-03)Globally, an increasing number of mines and hydrocarbon fields are nearing depletion, following decades of resource exploitation. These operations and the associated infrastructure will require complex and costly dismantling; technical and environmental restoration and rehabilitation measures; and socioeconomic investments to counteract retrenchment, post-closure economic downturns and other effects associated with the end of the project's productive life. The intent of this Toolkit is to serve as a resource to support the development of flexible but systematic regulatory approaches to key components of a sustainable decommissioning and closure planning and implementation process. This Toolkit is organized around what are believed to be core components of a practical approach that governments may adopt or adapt in the process of identifying and managing decommissioning and closure needs. The Toolkit structure is organized as: introduction and overview sets the stage on the purpose and objectives of the Toolkit, intended audience or users, key components and toolkit structure, guideline sources and definitions. General Toolkit guidance document is designed to provide an overview of sector specific trends and challenges related to decommissioning and closure. This is based on experts' opinions on which issues are higher priority and may warrant additional attention on the part of governments. Tool policy and regulatory framework aims to delineate the steps for an enhanced policy and regulatory framework, and provide a platform for the implementation of the remaining tools. Tool two environmental and social best practice and management systems describes how governments can contribute to the implementation of socio-environmental best practices leading to more sustainable decommissioning and closure, and incorporates guidance on the development of a conceptual closure plan. Tool three financial assurance mechanisms provides a roadmap for establishing (or enhancing) sufficient and reliable financial assurance for the extractives sectors, and provides alternatives and templates for further guidance. Tool four enforcements and monitoring emphasize the importance for governments of monitoring compliance with regulations and requirements during the planning and implementation of decommissioning and closure activities. Tool five stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement encourages governments and related agencies to use stakeholder engagement to better understand key community priorities and to contribute as partners in sustainable decommissioning and closure planning, while at the same time fine-tuning government's role in this process.Publication Mine Closure(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-04-23)The objective of this toolbox is to provide policy makers, governmental administrators, and lawmakers with the information needed to develop a broad governance framework that reduces the risks of an improperly managed mining industry and helps ensure successful mine closure. Every jurisdiction is unique and will require a solution that fits their legislative, cultural, economic and historical context. The toolbox is meant to provide examples of good international industry practice and basic legislative requirements that should be in place to facilitate closure. It also provides practical guidance and explanations for the key components of and process for developing a governance framework specific to mine closure. The tools found herein are based on GIIP including ICMM’s ‘Integrated Mine Closure: Good Practice Guide’, APEC’s ‘Mine Closure Checklist for Governments’, and other guidelines, frameworks, and standards. The ICMM and APEC publications include excellent information (e.g. checklists), which can be used in conjunction with this toolkit to guide the development of these frameworks. Section five sets out the legal elements that should be in place to facilitate closure, while sections six and seven highlight the socioeconomic and technical requirements of closure respectively. In each section guidance has been provided on key items that should be included in legislation, as well as suggested content to appear in policies and guidelines. Sections eight, nine, and eleven provide additional tools that are relevant for governments and other stakeholders in assessing and implementing closure practices. Section ten addresses some of the unique challenges that arise from legacy mines that were not closed in accordance with good international industry practice.Publication Just Coal Transition in Western Macedonia, Greece(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-31)This report analyzes the consequences for the labor force of Western Macedonia’s (Greece) decarbonization as part of Europe’s new Green Deal. Already, the region records the highest unemployment rate of the country (27 percent in 2018). A survey of contractors suggests that about 16,000 jobs could potentially be affected by the closure of the mines (about 4,500 directly in coal and power production and another 11,000-11,500 indirectly supplying goods and services). It mainly concerns older and less educated, but medium-skilled workers. Many do not expect much of a future in Western Macedonia, with most of the better-skilled seeing themselves move to other regions. But much will also depend on the coal transition path chosen, including the timing and labor intensity of the power plant decommissioning and land reclamation plans, as well as those of the new alternative activities promoted. Timely consultations with the workers affected will also be critical.Publication Digital Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-03-13)All African countries need better and more jobs for their growing populations. "Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs" shows that broader use of productivity-enhancing, digital technologies by enterprises and households is imperative to generate such jobs, including for lower-skilled people. At the same time, it can support not only countries’ short-term objective of postpandemic economic recovery but also their vision of economic transformation with more inclusive growth. These outcomes are not automatic, however. Mobile internet availability has increased throughout the continent in recent years, but Africa’s uptake gap is the highest in the world. Areas with at least 3G mobile internet service now cover 84 percent of Africa’s population, but only 22 percent uses such services. And the average African business lags in the use of smartphones and computers as well as more sophisticated digital technologies that catalyze further productivity gains. Two issues explain the usage gap: affordability of these new technologies and willingness to use them. For the 40 percent of Africans below the extreme poverty line, mobile data plans alone would cost one-third of their incomes—in addition to the price of access devices, apps, and electricity. Data plans for small- and medium-size businesses are also more expensive than in other regions. Moreover, shortcomings in the quality of internet services—and in the supply of attractive, skills-appropriate apps that promote entrepreneurship and raise earnings—dampen people’s willingness to use them. For those countries already using these technologies, the development payoffs are significant. New empirical studies for this report add to the rapidly growing evidence that mobile internet availability directly raises enterprise productivity, increases jobs, and reduces poverty throughout Africa. To realize these and other benefits more widely, Africa’s countries must implement complementary and mutually reinforcing policies to strengthen both consumers’ ability to pay and willingness to use digital technologies. These interventions must prioritize productive use to generate large numbers of inclusive jobs in a region poised to benefit from a massive, youthful workforce—one projected to become the world’s largest by the end of this century.