IENE’s new study on "Energy and Employment in Greece” has been officially released and was presented in a special event to IENE members and media representatives on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, in Athens. This latest study published by the Institute aims in assessing both the size and the specific characteristics of the workforce of Greece’s energy sector and, also, the potential for the creation of new jobs by 2015 and 2020.
The presentation of the study was co-organized by IENE and the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and was held at the HERMES conference room of ACCI in central Athens.
IENE’s Chairman Mr. John Chadjivassiliadis, in his introductory remarks, stressed the necessity for training for the new type of jobs in the country’s energy sector. In his speech, Mr. Konstantinos Michalos, President of ACCI and of UHC (Union of Hellenic Chambers), underlined that the energy sector can help to fundamentally change Greece’s economic outlook.
Mr. Costis Stambolis, IENE’s Executive Director, provided a thorough introduction on the study and referred to its raison d’ être and the industry’s contribution in the funding of this 18-month research project, whereas Ms. Argiro Roinioti, Economist (MSc) and Research Associate of IENE, who co-ordinated the study, presented in detail its findings.
Moreover, there were interventions by some of the study’s sponsors, who outlined their companies’ approach to employment issues. It must be noted that IENE’s study on "Energy and Employment in Greece” was sponsored by some of Greece’s largest companies, including the Public Power Corporation (PPC), the Public Gas Corporation S.A. (DEPA S.A.), the Hellenic Association of Independent Power Producers (HAIPP), the Greek Association of RES Electricity Producers and Energean Oil & Gas SA, whereas Attiki Gas Supply Company S.A. (EPA ATTIKIS) was the study’s supporter.
Although the energy sector in Greece accounts for only 4% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), its impact on the nation’s economy is much wider. The role of energy in Greece’s economy is considered of vital importance on account of its extensive energy infrastructure (electricity, natural gas, oil etc.), and the ongoing investments in the sector, which have a multiplying effect on the economy, as they contribute to both job creation in many other sectors and to the rise of the overall demand.
IENE’s new study on "Energy and Employment in Greece” is mainly focused on the production, transmission and management of energy and the resulting employment. The analysis of the study covered the following parameters:
(a) An estimation of the employed workforce in the energy sector,
(a) Identification of the existing employment trends in the various branches of the energy sector,
(c) An identification and analysis of the emerging perspectives on the employment in the various energy sub-sectors, and the energy sector as a whole.
The study also examines the situation and the outlook of all different energy subsectors. The employment outlook for some of these subsectors including natural gas, Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and energy efficiency, appear positive with thousands of new jobs created over the last five years, despite the current adverse economic climate. According to the study, despite the steep rise in unemployment (from 8.3% in 2008 to 24.2% in 2012), the workforce of Greece’s energy sector grew from 82,000 (2008) to 94,000 (2012), thanks mainly to RES and energy efficiency.
The study, also, evaluates the qualitative characteristics of the various types
of jobs in the country’s energy sector (i.e. education level, work experience,
field of activity).
The research and analysis was based on data collection from Greek and
international sources, as well as on questionnaires and interviews conducted with
individual companies and business associations.
The authors of this new IENE study include Ms.
Argiro Roinioti, Economist (MSc), Research Associate of IENE, Mr. Costis Stambolis, Architect-Energy Expert, A.A.Dip.Grad., Executive Director of IENE and Mr. John
Chadjivassiliadis, Mechanical-Electrical
Engineer, Independent Consultant, Chairman
of IENE.
