Complexity of renewable energy and technological innovation on gender-specific labour market in South African economy

Abstract

Despite advancements in renewable energy and technological innovation, significant gaps remain in the empirical literature, especially on gender-specific employment and wages. Coupling with the growing global shift towards renewable energy and technological innovation, motivated by the need to address climate change, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and create sustainable economic pathways, this study investigates the complexities of renewable energy's impact on gender-specific labour market performances. Specifically, the study examines the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis for renewable energy and its influence on employment and wages, assesses the validity of the green growth hypothesis, and the interactive effects of renewable energy and technological innovation by exploring the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model. Findings reveal that renewable energy positively impacts employment across aggregate, male, and female models in both the short and long term; however, its effect on wages varies significantly, initially suppressing wage levels before transitioning to long-term growth. Additionally, the moderating effect of technological innovation promotes employment and wage benefits across all models. The findings across all models demonstrate a high degree of consistency. The study recommends investing in skill development and adopting gender-sensitive policies to promote equitable access to green jobs, supporting inclusive growth. Additionally, it advocates for innovation in the renewable energy sector to drive sustainable advancements.