The future of the coal sector is today compromised by the global energy transition. According to a recent study carried out by the American NGO Global Energy Monitor, up to 15% of jobs in the sector could be threatened by 2035, or around 400,000 jobs worldwide. A prospect that could worsen by 2050, with a million potential jobs lost.
China, the world’s largest producer of coal, would be particularly affected by this development. The sector currently employs 1.5 million people in the country, and the northwest province of Shanxi could see the loss of 240,000 jobs by 2050. Despite continued demand for coal in China, Industrial automation and future restructuring could greatly impact the employment sector.
India, the world’s second largest coal producer, would not be spared either. The state company Coal India Ltd, which is already seeing its workforce decline each year, could cut 74,000 jobs by 2050. South Africa, where the province of Mpumalanga concentrates the majority of national production, would also see 48,000 jobs at risk by 2030, according to a study by the research organization Krutham.
Faced with this situation, the professional retraining of coal workers appears to be a necessity. Experts recommend directing them towards jobs of the future in the field of renewable energies, such as solar or wind power. In South Africa, for example, a $151 million investment plan has been put in place, including a component devoted to the retraining of workers in the coal sector.
This transition to green energy also offers new job opportunities. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that by 2030, this sector could create 38 million jobs worldwide. The growth of the renewable energy sector therefore represents a real employment engine for the future.
It is therefore essential that countries and companies support the retraining of coal workers towards these new industries, by putting in place training and support programs. This energy transition not only offers the possibility of fighting global warming, but also of creating new sustainable jobs and improving the living conditions of workers.