Working Paper

Measuring the Spectrum of Occupational Emissions

Abstract: Understanding how occupations differ in their exposure to emissions-intensive activities is fundamental for analyzing labor market risks amid changes in the energy mix. We develop new, data-driven measures of occupational emissions intensity that capture heterogeneity across and within industries. Our baseline Occupational Emissions Score (OES), along with wage- and concentration-adjusted variations (WOES and COES), highlights substantial differences in emissions exposure across the U.S. workforce. Applying these measures, we document several new facts: emissions are highly concentrated in a small set of occupations; emissions intensity has declined over time; and even within industries, workers' exposure varies significantly by occupation. Higher-emission occupations are disproportionately held by older, male, native-born, and less-educated workers, and are concentrated in particular regions. While higher-emission occupations tend to experience lower employment growth, they show higher hourly wages and vacancy growth. An event study of coal mine closures further shows that high-emission occupations are more exposed to structural shocks. Together, our measures provide a comprehensive, granular framework for understanding occupational risk and adjustment during major economic shifts.

JEL Classification: J23; J24; J62; Q52; Q54; R11;

https://doi.org/10.18651/RWP2025-05

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Part of Series: Research Working Paper

Publication Date: 2025-07-01

Number: RWP 25-05