Sustainable employment


Book Description

This NAO report examines the subject of sustainable employment, and the options available to support people in their efforts to maintain their work and advance in their roles. It has been prepared against a background of considerable focus and activity on skills and on employment, in particular the Leitch review (ISBN 97801108404860), as well as the Department for Work and Pensions, "In Work, Better Off" (Cm.7130, ISBN 9780101713023). Sustainable employment is at the centre of the Department's work to help low-skilled people into work and out of poverty. A number of recommendations are set out, including: that more and better information is needed on how long jobs are sustained and to identify the people most at risk of early exit; sustainable employment can be improved by a programme of targets that take account of both job duration and individuals' aggregate employment; that an ongoing development of economically valuable skills is a key element of sustainable employment along with better integration between employment programmes and programmes for raising skills; that the "Train to Gain" programme needs to achieve a good balance between focusing on "hard to reach" employers and engaging employers in raising skills




Green Careers


Book Description

Provides an overview of green jobs, presents profiles of ninety different occupations, offers case studies and interviews, and includes career planning information and job search resources.




Sustainable employment


Book Description

This report examines the reasons why people are unlikely to stay in work; the contribution which education is making to improving employability; and whether employment programmes reflect the needs of business and local markets. Although the UK has high employment levels, many people have difficulty staying in work. Of the 2.4 million Jobseeker's Allowance claims made each year over two-thirds are repeat claims. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills have been slow to develop suitable shared objectives and targets for sustained employment. The DWP has used 13 weeks in work as a yardstick for sustained employment, but it now accepts that this measure is too short. The Government has set targets to be achieved by 2020: 95 per cent of adults to achieve functional literacy and numeracy skills (the levels needed to get by in life and at work) and 90 per cent to achieve a first full Level 2 qualification (equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C). The Departments hope to achieve these goals by introducing skills screening for benefits recipients, relaxing rules that restrict access to training provision for people on benefits, promoting better integration and take-up of pre-work and in-work training, increasing government funding for basic skills training, and launching a new Skills Account to give adult learners greater choice and control over learning. Through Skills Accounts, learners will be able to purchase, using public money, relevant learning at an accredited, quality assured provider of their choice. Around a third of employers do not invest in training, although the number of employers who say that they are training their staff has increased slightly. People with the lowest skills are the least likely to be trained by their employers.




Green Jobs for Sustainable Development


Book Description

A ‘green economy’ must be built on ‘green jobs’ - the kind of employment that is low carbon, intended to reduce energy use and expected to restore environmental quality. But attempts to define exactly what a ‘green job’ is have led to varied and often contradictory answers. There are many unresolved questions including whether we consider jobs in the nuclear fuel industry to be green jobs? Or is a worker at a glass making company which supplies the glass for the solar photovoltaic industry doing a green job given that glass making is a ‘dirty’ industry? This book deals with the relationship between "green" concepts (green jobs, green economy, green growth) and sustainable development. It examines to which extent creation of green jobs supports overall economic development as opposed to creation of elitist jobs and greenwashing. In order to do so, general conceptual frameworks for green jobs, green economy, green growth and green policy are presented as well as their implementation in ten countries selected among the Group of Twenty. The selection includes advanced (the European Union, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, Japan) and developing countries (Mexico, China, Turkey and Brazil). The analysis presented in this book shows that although green concept is well-intentioned, its implementation depends on local circumstances – economic, political and social. Developed countries perceive green growth as a way to create new markets and demand, while developing countries rely more on labor intensive growth and less expensive green jobs. Thus, greening the economy does not diminish differences between rich and poor. This book is suitable for those who study and work in Ecological Economics, Sustainable Development and Labor Economics.




Sustainable Work and the Environmental Crisis


Book Description

This book applies a pioneering approach that provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the links between political economic activity and the degraded nature of contemporary work. It crucially asks if positive outcomes for the environment and workers are compatible and achievable.




Decent Work, Green Jobs and the Sustainable Economy


Book Description

The challenges of achieving environmental sustainability and of generating decent work for all are closely linked. In this timely book, Poschen argues that an integrated approach to tackle these challenges is a necessity: the goal of environmentally sustainable economies will not be attained without the active contribution of the world of work. Decent Work, Green Jobs and the Sustainable Economy demonstrates that green jobs can be a key economic driver, as the world steps into the largely uncharted territory of building a sustainable and low-carbon global economy. Poschen shows that positive outcomes are possible, but require a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges.Enterprises, workers and governments are not passive bystanders in the great transformation that is urgently needed in our economies. They are essential agents of change, able to develop new ways of working in sustainable enterprises that safeguard the environment, create decent jobs and foster social inclusion. This book highlights the solutions that the world of work offers for policy and practice to tackle climate change, achieve environmental sustainability and to build prosperous and cohesive societies. It is essential reading for those in business, aca­demia and government.




Creating Sustainable Work Systems


Book Description

Current trends reveal that increasing intensity at work has major consequences at individual, organizational and societal levels. New organizational approaches to work are needed so the balance between intensive and sustainable work can be achieved, yet there are no guiding models, theories or examples on how this can be done. In exploring the development of sustainable work systems, this book analyzes these problems, and provides the basis for designing and implementing 'sustainable work systems' based on the idea of regeneration and the development of human and social resources. Shedding light on the emerging work systems, this book describes existing problems and paradoxes. The researchers, from various academic disciplines and institutions in the US and Europe, consider the existing possibilities and emerging solutions and explore alternatives to intensive work systems.




Maintaining a Sustainable Work–Life Balance


Book Description

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com. This thought-provoking book provides a detailed exploration of work–life balance, considering the perspectives of specific groups such as parents, academics, the self-employed, and migrants. Moreover, it sheds more light on the dynamics of self-care, childcare as well as informal care. Collaborative and interdisciplinary in its approach, featuring researchers ranging from quantitative to interpretative scholars, it highlights the importance of a sustainable work–life balance and the instruments needed to improve this.




Sustainable Work and the Environmental Crisis


Book Description

Compared to 20 years ago, the jobs many people do today are increasingly characterised by low pay and insecurity, while countless others cope with workplace stress and ill-health. At the same time the consequences of our current model of economic activity are creating dangerous and critical changes in the planet’s climate. Until recently debates around these two issues have had little contact with each other. This book demonstrates that there are definite and complex connections between degraded jobs and a degraded environment, that neither the dominant economic model nor the rate at which we exploit the planet’s resources are sustainable and that the limits for both may be reached sooner rather than later. By bringing together insights from critical thinkers in a range of disciplines, the book discusses the requirements and characteristics for work to be at the same time economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and examines the potential for alternative routes to sustainable work in policies and actions that support both the natural environment and worker well-being. The book will be of interest to researchers, academics and students in the fields of HRM, labour studies, employment relations, sociology, environmental studies and sustainability. It is particularly relevant for those focusing on the link between labour and climate change. It is also highly relevant to policymakers, trade unions and NGOs looking at decent work and sustainability.




Achieving Sustainable Transformation in Tourism and Hospitality Sectors


Book Description

In the sector of global tourism, a critical challenge has taken center stage — the imperative for sustainable transformation. The World Tourism Organization has declared the theme for World Tourism Day 2025 as "Tourism and Sustainable Transformation," shedding light on the urgency to address multifaceted challenges that transcend conventional paradigms. The discourse has evolved beyond the traditional bounds of environmental sustainability, extending its reach to encompass social equality, cultural preservation, and economic viability. The tourism sector's pivotal role in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 underscores the intricate interplay between tourism and pressing global issues such as poverty, gender inequality, and environmental degradation. Against this backdrop of urgency and complexity, the book titled Achieving Sustainable Transformation in Tourism and Hospitality Sectors offers a comprehensive exploration into viable practices necessary for inclusive, equitable, and responsible tourism. This book serves as a vital contribution to the ongoing dialogue surrounding sustainable tourism. With a focus on inclusivity, equity, and responsibility, it delves into the intricate relationship between tourism and sustainable transformation. It goes beyond mere rhetoric, providing a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie at the intersection of tourism and global sustainability goals. As the global community grapples with disparities, this book becomes a timely and indispensable resource. Policymakers, academicians, researchers, and industry practitioners are invited to contribute to this collective effort, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and responsible future within the realms of tourism and hospitality. With a diverse array of recommended topics spanning community-based tourism, ecotourism, inclusive development, sustainable employment, and aviation, this book positions itself as an essential guide for those committed to addressing the challenges of our time. By presenting case studies, policy research, and insights into responsible tourism practices, it equips readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of sustainable transformation. As the global community strives for a more equitable future, this book offers a roadmap for shaping responsible and inclusive growth within the tourism and hospitality sectors.