78.    In the process of shifting economies to a sustainable future, some new jobs will be created, some jobs will be lost and many jobs will be restructured. It will be crucial to develop an appropriate set of initiatives that reinforces the ability of individuals and communities to manage this transition to a more sustainable future. This is especially important as the economic downturn has deprived many workers of jobs, impeded the creation of new jobs and aggravated the situation of the unemployed and their families.

79.    As the economy becomes greener, however, there is huge scope for generating decent jobs in sectors that contribute to maintaining or restoring the environment, from renewable energy and retrofitting energy-efficient technologies into the built environment to sustainable waste management and environmental remediation. The global environmental goods and services sector is expected to be worth up to $800 billion by 2015.

80.    Jobs in green sectors can also have other benefits. Labour is not only about financial gain and meeting market demands. It has social value and is a means for self-realization. Employees have reported increased job satisfaction working for companies that embrace or promote sustainability principles. In order to provide more decent jobs, it is clear that economic growth is needed.

81.    A conducive business environment is fundamental, including the rule of law, property rights, macroeconomic stability and open competition. Governments need to make these priorities in their policymaking and budgets. With these fundamental conditions in place, targeted measures are more likely to pay off, both for society at large and for groups underrepresented in the labour market, such as women and youth.

82.    Millions of young people are projected to enter the labour market every month for several decades to come, and a thriving private sector can absorb and take advantage of this demographic dividend. Young people also have undertapped potential; they are among the most affected by the recent economic crisis, with 81 million young people currently unemployed in the world today. An additional 152 million young people work but live in households that earn less than the equivalent of $1.25 per day. One of their options will be to establish a micro or small enterprise. Entrepreneurship education, access to finance, a supportive administrative and regulatory framework and programmes for business assistance and support are all crucial factors for entrepreneurial engagement.

83.    Empowering women in particular has the potential to yield tremendous benefits for households, communities and the global economy. Studies show that closing the gap between male and female employment rates would boost GDP by 9 per cent in the United States of America, 13 per cent in the Eurozone and 16 per cent in Japan. Other studies show that there is significant economic benefit to addressing the gender wage gap as well. In Australia, for example, a 1 per cent reduction in the gender wage gap would grow the economy by 0.5 per cent of GDP. Yet wage disparities persist. In the United States, for example, women occupied fewer than 15 per cent of executive officer positions at Fortune 500 companies and less than 8 per cent of top earning positions in 2010, despite making up 48 per cent of the workforce.

84. Women are also at especially high risk of unemployment: in developing countries, women have been more affected by the current economic crisis owing to their large share of export-led factory jobs and employment as migrant workers in service industries, both sectors that have fared badly during the recession. Furthermore, women’s informal work is not visible in national labour force statistics and is not included in social protection schemes.

Recommendation 7
85. Governments should adopt and advance “green jobs” and decent work policies as a priority in their budgets and sustainable development strategies while creating conditions for new jobs in the private sector.

Recommendation 8
86.    Governments and business should build partnerships and provide start-up services for young entrepreneurs.

Recommendation 9
87.    Employers, Governments and trade unions should take a comprehensive approach to advancing equality in the workplace, including by adopting principles of non-discrimination; measures to advance women into leadership roles; gender-sensitive work-life and health policies; education, training and professional development targeting women and minorities; and commitments to measure and publicly report on progress.

Recommendation 10
88. Governments and business should recognize the economic benefits of enabling the full participation of women in the economy by putting in place economic policies that explicitly address the unique challenges that limit women, in particular:

(a) Allowing access for women farmers to land and resources;
(b) Improving women’s access to capital and financial services;
(c) Improving access to markets through trade and technical assistance programmes and microfinance;
(d) Supporting the rise of women leaders in the public and private sectors.