CHAPTER 3: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT GREEN JOBS IN AUSTRALIA?

3.0 introduction
3.1 summary of recent green jobs survey reports

3.1.1 The Green Jobs in Industry Research Report
3.1.2 The Perth Biodiversity Project
3.1.3 The Sustainable Energy Industry Surveys (2000 and 2002)
3.1.4 Western Australian Environmental Management Training Needs Research (1997)

CHAPTER SUMMARY

• Previous studies on green jobs industries across Australia have shown rapid growth rates.
• The major ACF/ACTU survey of 1994 showed green employment grew by 81% between 1988 and 1993 in the 361 employers surveyed. 59% of private firms in the 1994 survey expected green employment to grow by more than 20% between 1993 and 1995.
• This 1994 survey revealed a young industry sector with 33% of private sector firms surveyed beginning their operation between 1988 and 1993.
• The Sustainable Energy Industry Surveys of 2000 and 2002 also indicated continuing upward trends in growth rates and employment in their industry. It has been estimated that the sustainable energy industry in Western Australian alone employed 4,900 people in 2000 - 2002 with an expected increase of 6.5% in employment between 2001-02 and 2002-03. The sustainable energy industry in Western Australia is dominated by two large players.
• The ACF/ACTU survey 1994 showed employment in the green jobs sector was spread across the 7 ABS occupation categories with professionals being the largest single group 21%. Demand for all occupations was increasing with strongest growth being in professionals. The WA sustainable energy industry survey confirmed this conclusion with 71% of those employed being managers, professionals or technicians.
• A review of training needs in the environmental management field in Western Australia conducted for the Department of Education and Training in 1997 supported the conclusion of previous studies that many in this industry are classified as small business with unique training needs. The review found that:
  • There was a need for environmental awareness training across all skill levels.
  • Business expressed a preference for technicians with management skills rather than managers with technical skills.
  • Practical in-house training was the preferred mode of delivery.
  • Training that supports the greening of jobs was supported above the creation of new green jobs.

3.0 INTRODUCTION

The most comprehensive Australian example of this kind of research is the 'Green Jobs in Industry Research Report' completed by the Green Jobs Unit of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, in 1994.

Since that time, other Australian research studies have been produced that focus on the environment sector. These include the `Enviroworks' report produced for the Western Australian Department of Education and Training in 1999³, the Sustainable Energy Industry Surveys of 2000⁴ and 2002⁵, the Perth Biodiversity Project⁶, and an environmental management training needs evaluation⁷.

All of these research reports have produced valuable information on the current state of employment and business activity in the 'environmental sector'. This study builds on the experience gained by previous work and, in part, aims to extend this collective effort.

The rest of this chapter briefly reviews the reports mentioned above.

3.1 SUMMARY OF RECENT GREEN JOBS SURVEY REPORTS

The 1994 Green Jobs in Industry report is the most important Australian research to focus on the environmental sector in the last decade. Based on a post-out Australia-wide questionnaire responded to by 560 employers, the Green Jobs report focused on employment and industry trends in five sectors: energy efficiency and renewable energy; waste management and clean production; recycling; ecotourism; and water/wastewater. The report presents useful statistical data on the performance of the environment sector in the early 1990s, along with a range of case studies outlining business successes.

The basic survey form used in the Green Jobs report was used as a model for the survey instrument used in our research. However, unlike our research, the Green Jobs report designed different questionnaires for each of the five sectors mentioned above. Table 1 outlines the nature of the survey sample analysed in the Green Jobs report.

Table 1: Profile of Respondents to the Green Jobs in Industry Employer Survey

Total Number of Employers in the Survey Sample	361
Industry Breakdown	20% waste management and cleaner production survey 13% recycling survey 24% water and wastewater survey 24% energy efficiency and renewable energy survey 19% ecotourism survey
Private or Public Organisations	70% private sector firms 27% utilities or joint public/private bodies 3% public sector
Employer Size	58% employed 0 - 20 people 24% employed 20 - 100 people 18% employed >100 people

This profile has been used as a benchmark to compare against our own survey sample, as outlined in Chapter 5.

The Green Jobs in Industry Report resulted in a number of useful findings. The most important are summarised below:

• Total green employment in the 361 responding firms grew by 38% between 1988 and 1993, and was expected to increase by an additional 9% by 1995.
• When water is removed from the figures, total green employment in the surveyed industries grew by 81% from 1988-93 and is predicted to grow a further 20% between 1993 and 1995. (This strong growth in energy, ecotourism, recycling and waste industries is masked in the above aggregate figures due to the magnitude of job losses in water board downsizing.)
• The average number of green jobs for the 249 employers existing in 1988 increased by 13% between 1988 and 1993 and was expected to increase by an additional 9% by 1995.
• 47% of all employers and 59% of private firms expected green employment in their workplace to grow by more than 20% between 1993 and 1995.
• 32% of large employers (100+ employees) expected their green jobs to increase by more than 20% between 1993 and 1995.
• Only 10% of employers expected to reduce the number of people employed in green jobs between 1993 and 1995.
• 34% of private sector firms more than doubled their green employment between 1988 and 1993, while 14% decreased green employment in the same period.
• 23% of private sector employers expected their green employment to increase by more than 100% by 1995.
• The sample also reflects a young industry - 33% of private sector firms surveyed began operation between 1988 and 1993, employing on average 14 people in 1993.
• Employment in the sector is spread fairly evenly across the 7 ABS occupation categories, with professionals the largest single grouping (21%), followed by plant and machine operators (18%).
• Occupation figures show increasing demand for all occupations, with the strongest increase for professionals followed by plant and machine operators.

Survey respondents of this 1994 Survey consistently reported, and predicted, future growth of green employment inside their organizations. What this table does not show is that whole firm employment during the study periods (1988 to 1993 and 1993 to 1995) was decreasing. In other words, green employment in the surveyed organizations was increasing as a proportion of the whole. In fact, green employment grew from 12% of whole firm employment in 1988, to 21% in 1993.

Increases in actual and projected private sector employment were strong in sustainable energy and ecotourism, but strongest of all in the waste management sector.

Occupation data showed a fairly even spread across all the occupations in 1993. According to the survey results, professionals made up the largest single occupation group (21%), and were expected to increase their proportion of the total faster than other occupations.

3.1.2 The Perth Biodiversity Project

9 Local Government Biodiversity Conservation Capacity Survey 2002

The Perth Biodiversity Project is a local government initiative to improve the conservation of biodiversity in the Perth Metropolitan region. The Project is largely funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, and involves 29 participating local governments. Part of the project consists of a detailed survey of local government environmental officers⁹.

The Perth Biodiversity Project survey indicates that Perth local governments spent a total of $5.14 million on salaries and activities related to biodiversity conservation in the 2000-2001 period. These Councils spent an estimated $21 million on other environmental protection and an estimated $16 million on natural resource management activities during this period.

Eleven out of the 29 surveyed local governments employ both an Environmental Officer and a Biodiversity Officer, with another 10 having one or the other. Perth local governments dedicate 41 full-time equivalent officers to on-ground bush regeneration. The Project report states that there is disparity between the amount of biodiversity managed by local government and the amount of financial and human resources dedicated to biodiversity conservation. Half of the 22 officers are employed in only 5 local governments, where a Bushland Team or crew has been formed and given recognition.

Over half (57%) of local governments provide and/or fund biodiversity-related training opportunities for their staff. Almost all of the respondents to the survey saw value in their local government providing additional ongoing training for staff involved in bushland management and biodiversity conservation. There was also an indication that Councillors have a special need for tailored training, given their decision-making responsibility.

3.1.3 The Sustainable Energy Industry Surveys (2000¹⁰ and 2002¹¹)

10 Sustainable Energy Industry Association 2000, 'SEINS 2000: Sustainable Energy Industry. The First National Survey of the Australian Sustainable Energy Industry' 11 Mark Ellis and Associates 2002, 'Economic Performance and Contribution of the Sustainable Energy Industry 2002: Australia and Western Australia'. Mark Ellis and Associates, Lilyfield NSW

The Sustainable Energy Industry Association has published two nationwide surveys of its members. The first, undertaken in 2000, was based on a survey sent out to over 2,200 firms. The 15% response (approximately 300 firms) was considered large enough to be externally valid. Responses were extrapolated to make conclusions relative to the Australia-wide industry.

The survey resulted in the following main conclusions:

• Total direct employment in the sustainable energy industry is in the order of 22,800 in 1999-2000 and 25,600 in 2000-2001. This represents an annual growth rate of 12%.
• The total employment effect of the sustainable energy industry on the economy is in the order of 64,000 in 1999-2000 and 72,000 in 2000-2001.
• The total value of the industry is in the order of $8billion in 1999-2000 and is likely to rise to approximately $10.2billion in 2000-2001. This represents an increase of around 28%.
• The total economic effect of the sustainable energy industry is between $18billion and $26billion in 1999-2000 and between $22billion and $33billion in 2000-2001.
• WA accounted for 5% of firms in the Australian sustainable energy industry.
• The WA industry is heavily influenced by two large players.
• The average number of full-time equivalent staff in WA firms was 29.2 in 1999-2000, and was expected to grow in 2000-2001 to 30.8.
• A rough estimate based on survey responses suggests employment in WA is in the order of 600 in 1999-2000 with some indications that it may grow by 15% in 2000-2001.
• The skill profile in WA is high, with 71.4% of employees being managers, professionals, or technicians.

The second survey, undertaken in 2002, used a similar research methodology and so the results are broadly comparable. The results we were given access to were only in draft form, and did not include as much detail as the 2000 survey. The 2002 survey was posted out to 2641 organisations across the country, with 551 being from WA. The Australia-wide response rate was 27% (573 completed returns), with 29% in WA (135 returns).

The 2002 survey resulted in the following main conclusions:

• Total direct Australia-wide employment in the sustainable energy industry was in the order of 26,685 in 2000/2001, 27,550 in 2001/2002, and is expected to be 29,290 in 2002/2003.
• Direct employment based upon survey returns in WA was 387 in 2000/2001, 500 in 2001/2002, and is estimated to be 492 in 2002/2003.
• When non-respondents are factored in, these WA direct employment figures change to 4,942 in 2000/2002, 5,105 in 2001/2002, and 5,437 in 2002/2003.

This suggests the following employment trends:

• an increase of 29% in survey-based WA employment between 2000/2001 and 2001/2002;
• an expected decrease of 1% in survey-based WA employment between 2001/2002 and 2002/2003;
• an increase of 3% in WA employment between 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 when non-respondents are factored in; and
• an expected increase of 6.5% in WA employment between 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 when non-respondents are factored in.

3.1.4 Western Australian Environmental Management Training Needs Research (1997)

This report was based upon a comprehensive review of training needs research in Western Australia, and through structured interviews with 84 industry representatives involved in environmental management activities. The aim of the research was to generate information that would assist the Department of Education and Training to effectively carry out its role as the strategic manager of the State's investment in vocational education and training resources over a medium to long term (3-10 year) timeframe.

The environmental management area was divided into seven sectors: air quality control; arid zone management; biotechnology; marine and coastal management; re-afforestation; recycling; and water and wastewater treatment. The creation of these categories was an attempt to describe this rapidly growing industry sector, they have been superseded by more recent work. The following detailed information is provided for each of these seven industries:

• the future direction and major changes for the next 10 years,
• an indication of the employment trends,
• the level at which job opportunities are most likely to occur,
• the identification of future training needs,
• the employment level at which the training will be most needed,
• the preferred training provider,
• the preferred mode of training delivery,
• current training gaps or skill levels, and
• details of job roles/occupations.

The six ANSZIC employment levels were used in the study: administration/management, professionals, para-professionals, trades people, clerical/sales, and labourer/plant operator. Some of the conclusions of the research relevant to Green Jobs were:

• the predominate attitude appeared to favour training that supports the greening of jobs rather than the creation of green jobs;
• environmental awareness training is a common thread running through the collected data. Two main avenues were identified as the primary focus for environmental awareness efforts: in the workforce at manager/supervisor/leading hand level and within all levels of education and training (ie. the development of an environmental culture for young people);
• there is a widespread preference for 'technicians' with management skills rather than 'managers' with technical skills;
• emphasis was placed on the need for training to be job and/or equipment specific and accordingly training prepared and delivered in-house was seen as important;
• the provision of consultancy services was seen as an area of growth; and
• across the environmental management industry area, many of the service providers are classified as small business which has its own series of unique training needs.

A number of recommendations for training were made including: 'that future WA Department of Education and Training activities arising out of this report be governed by the following priority listing:

• Primary
  1. waste management/recycling
  2. re-afforestation
  3. arid zone management
  4. air quality control
• Secondary
  5. marine and coastal management
  6. biotechnology
  7. waste, wastewater treatment.'