Social equity & labour
Green Job
Definition
Green jobs are decent jobs that contribute directly to preserving or restoring environmental quality, as defined by the International Labour Organization: jobs that reduce environmental impact, limit greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy and raw-material efficiency, and minimise waste and pollution, while meeting decent-work conditions. The category spans environmental sectors (renewable energy, waste management, conservation) and greened occupations across all industries.
References
ILO definition
Overview
What it means
Two tests must both pass: the job must be green in outcome and decent in quality. A low-paid, unsafe recycling job is not a green job in the ILO sense. The concept links the environmental and social pillars — the green transition's employment promise depends on jobs that are both.
How it is used
Governments measure green employment in labour statistics and design skills policy around it; the concept anchors just-transition planning and SDG 8 reporting.
Why it matters
Political support for the transition depends on it being a jobs story; the green job definition keeps "green jobs" claims honest. **Note:** 1263 Green employment merges into this entry as the aggregate form.