From Jobless to Green Jobs: A Comparison of Youth Unemployment and Green Economy in Tunisia and Türkiye

Capitalism is a system that historically grows and reproduces itself by seizing the surplus value obtained from labour power. In this sense, the organization of the labour market according to the periodic needs of the system is of critical importance for the continuity of the system. Today, capitalism creates young unemployed people and the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) status among young people is increasing. In the face of increasing youth unemployment and NEET status, especially in developing countries, the green transformation process and the green jobs that come with it are presented as a solution. This study aims to discuss how the green jobs that will be created by the green transformation that capitalism proposes to control ecological damage can have a counterpart in the labour market through the comparative example of Türkiye and Tunisia. The economic, political and social similarities and differences of the two countries will be discussed with a critical perspective, and the inclusiveness of the green transformation within the capital accumulation process will be discussed. The study uses a descriptive and comparative method with secondary data. Keywords: Youth unemployment, green jobs, Tunisia, Türkiye REFERENCES Kolsuz, G., Yeldan, E. (2015). Economics of Climate Change and Green Employment: A General Equilibrium Investigation for Turkey. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 70(2017), 1240-1250. Bayrakdar, S., İncekara, A. (2013). Türkiye’nin Genç İşsizlik Profili. Çalışma İlişkileri Dergisi, 4(1), 15-38. Bell, D. N. F., No 62. DOI: 10.2801/264585. Çetin, M., & Eğrican, N. (2011). Employment Effects of Solar Energy in Türkiye. Energy Policy, 39(11), 7184–7190. DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2011.08.039. European Commission. (2019). The European Green Deal. https://ec.europa.eu Garrett-Peltier, H. (2017). Green Versus Brown: Comparing the Employment Impacts of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Fossil Fuels. Economic Modelling, 61, 439–447. DOI:10.1016/j.econmod.2016.11.012. International Labour Organization (ILO). (2018). World Employment and Social Outlook 2018: Greening with jobs. International Labour Organization (ILO). (2021). Global Employment Trends for Youth 2020: Technology and the future of jobs. International Labour Organization (ILO). (2023). Green Jobs and Skills in Türkiye and Tunisia. OECD. (2012). Green Growth and Developing Countries: A Summary for Policy Makers. OECD. (2022). Education and Green Transitions in Tunisia and Türkiye. Öz, S., Dindarik, N., Duman, F., (2019). Schumpeteryan Girişimcilik ve 21. Yüzyıl Girişimcilik Yaklaşımları: Y Kuşağı Girişimcileri Üzerine Nitel Bir Araştırma, OPUS, 13, pp. 1056-1091. Öz, S., İbrahim, B., Civriz, M., Başar, P., (2024). Unveiling the impact of digital transformation: a study on key disciplines, technological unemployment, and neo-Luddism in the textile industry, Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Emerald Publishing Limited. Porter, M. E., & van der Linde, C. (1995). Toward a New Conception of the Environment-Competitiveness Relationship. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 9(4), 97–118. Scarpetta, S., Sonnet, A., & Manfredi, T. (2010). Rising Youth Unemployment During the Crisis: How to Prevent Negative Long-term Consequences on a Generation?. OECD Social, Employment and Migration Papers, No. 106. Statista. (2025). Youth Unemployment Rate in Tunisia from 1991 to 2024. Stern, D. I. (2004). The Rise and Fall of the Environmental Kuznets Curve. World Development, 32(8), 1419–1439. TURKSTAT. (2024) Labour Force Statistics. UNCTAD. (2020). The Least Developed Countries Report 2020: Productive Capacities for the New Decade. UNDP. (2024). Green Economy Transitions and Youth Employment in Türkiye. UNEP. (2011). Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication. Union for the Mediterranean (UFM). (2023). Green Skills Training in the Mediterranean. Wei, M., Patadia, S., & Kammen, D. M. (2010). Putting Renewables and Energy Efficiency to Work: How Many Jobs Can the Clean Energy Industry Generate in the US? Energy Policy, 38(2), 919–931. DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2009.10.044. World Bank. (2024). Skills and Jobs for a Green Transition in Tunisia. World Bank. (2020). Doing Business 2020: Comparing Business Regulation in 190 Economies.