The world currently faces difficulties securing human capital, enabling social mobility and enhancing societal resilience – issues that are likely to increase with a growing and ageing global population.

Meanwhile, the climate crisis and geopolitical tensions are accelerating the shift towards greener economies and greater energy independence.

Providing a socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economy is a key policy goal for many countries. This white paper explores the role social and green jobs can play in addressing these twin challenges. Specifically, it seeks to quantify the need for social and green jobs in 10 countries by 2030 to meet inclusion and environmental ambitions.

Social jobs, defined as key occupations within three foundational social institutions – education, healthcare and care – are crucial for building inclusion and enhancing social mobility. Green jobs, defined as roles that require specific “green skills” to perform them, are crucial for enabling a transition to a more sustainable economy.