Shanxi, China Creates Over 1,000 Jobs for Displaced Coal Workers

A case study by the World Resources Institute (WRI) detailing a project in Shanxi, China, that transitioned displaced coal workers into the tourism sector, creating over 1,000 jobs and integrating 'just transition' principles into provincial government planning.

• Shanxi province is heavily dependent on coal, which provides 45% of industrial employment and 73% of local tax revenue. To address the challenges of decarbonization, WRI collaborated with provincial leaders, coal companies, and communities to implement a "coal-to-tourism" business model.
• Starting in 2024, Shanxi converted mining areas into tourism destinations based on nature and historical sites. This initiative resulted in more than 1,000 displaced coal workers finding employment as bus drivers, heritage restoration assistants, and tour guides, while nearby households experienced annual income increases of 10%-20%.
• The Shanxi model has been adopted by the provinces of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi, and is being considered for the national coal sector's next five-year development plan. Additionally, Shanxi is the first province in China to formally include "just transition" principles—focusing on equity and inclusion—within its government workplan.

APA

World Resources Institute (2026). Shanxi, China Creates Over 1,000 Jobs for Displaced Coal Workers. https://www.wri.org/outcomes/shanxi-china-creates-over-1000-jobs-displaced-coal-workers

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Shanxi, China Creates Over 1,000 Jobs for Displaced Coal Workers. 2026. https://www.wri.org/outcomes/shanxi-china-creates-over-1000-jobs-displaced-coal-workers.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Shanxi, China Creates Over 1,000 Jobs for Displaced Coal Workers |date=3 March 2026 |url=https://www.wri.org/outcomes/shanxi-china-creates-over-1000-jobs-displaced-coal-workers |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2026shanxi, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Shanxi, China Creates Over 1,000 Jobs for Displaced Coal Workers}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/outcomes/shanxi-china-creates-over-1000-jobs-displaced-coal-workers}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }