A recently released report reveals a promising outlook for South Africa's green economy, with 4.3 million jobs projected to be created by 2050. However, it also raises alarm bells about the possibility of these positions being predominantly low-paid and out of reach for many, especially women. The findings, part of a study titled Unlocking Africa's green transition: opportunities towards a green and inclusive workforcewere launched by financial sector development agency FSD Africa in collaboration with Shell Foundation and Shortlist.
The report shows that as the green economy begins to take shape, South Africa is projected to create 1.3 million green jobs by 2030, rising to 4.3 million by 2050. Unlike most African countries, where job growth is driven primarily by decentralized and service-based industries, South Africa's trajectory is rooted in utility-scale infrastructure. The report identifies key sectors such as energy, waste recycling and agriculture – particularly cold-chain solutions – as important for job creation.
Despite these promising figures, serious issues related to job quality and inclusivity loom large. More than 93% of current green workers earn less than $5,000 (R81,000) annually, largely due to the prevalence of entry-level, labour-intensive roles in sectors such as construction and waste collection. What is worrying is that two-thirds of these workers earn below the minimum income band, indicating limited avenues for economic advancement. Women's participation in green jobs also remains stagnant, at only 25% of the workforce.
Kevin Munjall, director of development impact at FSD Africa, warns, “South Africa's green transition is in a strong position, but without deliberate policy intervention, it risks increasing low-income employment rather than generating real economic dynamism and excluding women from most of the workforce.”
Targeting challenges to an inclusive workforce
The report outlines a number of systemic barriers that South Africa must face to maximize its advanced green policy framework. With all projected green jobs for 2030 concentrated in the energy and waste sectors, it is important to diversify across agriculture and nature to reduce the risks associated with overconcentration. Furthermore, structural barriers hindering women's participation, such as inadequate workplace facilities and transportation concerns, must be corrected to fully leverage the domestic labor force.
Currently, many jobs are temporary, focused on construction phases. However, by 2050, more sustainable roles related to technologies such as battery storage and smart grids are expected to prevail. If South Africa is to fill these skilled positions with local talent, there is an urgent need to enhance the capabilities of the domestic workforce.
Call for structural reforms
The report highlights key priorities to prevent setbacks in South Africa's Just Transition efforts and fully realize inclusive, high-quality employment opportunities. Required actions include:
- Improving job quality and wages across the sector.
- Ensuring reliable project pipeline to facilitate strategic workforce planning.
- Investing in advanced technical skills and training programs, particularly in grid systems, battery management and digital roles.
- Addressing gender disparities in technical job roles.
- It is important to address the weaknesses in the basic education system, especially the declining pass rates of mathematics for engineering aspirants.
On a broader scale, South Africa stands as a key player in the anticipated continent-wide green jobs boom, with projections suggesting that 3.8 million to 7.9 million jobs could be created in Africa by 2030, rising to between 65.9 and 84.5 million by 2050. These opportunities will depend on strategic policy decisions and prioritization of workforce development, especially given that Africa's renewable energy workforce currently accounts for only 2% of the global one. Overall, despite possessing 60% of the world's best solar resources.
Richard Gomes, Chief Program Officer of the Shell Foundation, says, “Africa's green transition represents one of the most significant economic opportunities of our generation. However, this vision can only be realized if the green economy is designed to work for the low-income and informal workers who power our societies – especially women.”
In response to these revelations, FSD is launching the Africa Green Jobs Innovation Hub. The initiative aims to mobilize financial resources and partnerships to enhance workforce development across the continent, ensuring that job training and education keeps pace with investments in green infrastructure.
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