Just transition: protecting workers in the green economy

Can the green transition create decent work and protect workers as well as the planet, asks IOSH’s Genis Fernandes.

The green transition¹ is reshaping global labour markets. Figures suggest that 14.4 million jobs will be affected globally by 2030, with a net gain of 9.6 million jobs². This will lead to new opportunities in renewable energy, battery production, green construction, retrofitting and sustainable manufacturing.

However, the transition brings significant challenges. Demand for critical minerals and renewable energy components is increasing. Simultaneously, labour shortages, skills gaps and pressure to meet climate targets quickly may put worker protections at risk.

Are green jobs good jobs?

Green jobs are often assumed to be good jobs. The International Labour Organization defines green jobs as decent jobs that contribute to preserving or restoring the environment³. As economies transition towards low-carbon and environmentally sustainable models, millions of new jobs are expected to be created.

Yet jobs which support environmental sustainability are not guarantees of decent work. Thousands of business enterprises will be involved in the transition, many in high-risk sectors. Growing evidence suggests that the green transition may also create or intensify modern slavery risks⁴ if social protections, labour standards, and human rights safeguards fail to keep pace with economic change.

Stakeholders should consider, not whether the green transition should occur, but whether it can be delivered in a just way. That means protecting workers’ rights, safeguarding vulnerable communities, and advancing environmental goals.

The hidden risks in green energy supply chains

Renewable energy supply chains

An estimated 16.2 million people work in the renewable energy industry globally⁵. While the sector is central to the green transition, concerns remain about labour exploitation within its supply chains. Solar panels are among the products commonly linked to forced labour. Around 40 per cent of the polysilicon used in solar panels is sourced from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region where forced labour has been alleged to form part of state policy⁶. These risks highlight the importance of considering worker protections across the entire renewable energy value chain, including battery production and mineral extraction.
Critical minerals and battery production

Demand for cobalt is expected to double by 2030. Between 15 per cent and 30 per cent of global cobalt supply is thought to come from artisanal mines in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where forced and child labour remain significant concerns6. Addressing these concerns is critical to ensuring environmental progress safeguards workers’ health, safety and wellbeing.
Green construction

Green construction is expected to play a critical role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. However, the sector already faces significant workforce challenges. According to EU-OSHA⁷, new technologies and working methods can introduce unfamiliar hazards, while rapid growth may lead to skills shortages and inadequate training.

Beyond health and safety risks, the construction industry has long been associated with human rights concerns, including labour exploitation, forced labour, recruitment-related abuses and poor working conditions in complex supply chains. Addressing these challenges is essential if the expansion of green construction is to support a truly just transition⁸.

Why a just transition matters

These examples demonstrate that environmental progress alone is not enough. A sustainable future is not one paid for by slavery and exploitation. The challenge is ensuring that the green transition benefits are shared fairly and that workers are protected. This is where the concept of a just transition becomes important.

The just transition promotes a green economy that is fair and inclusive to everyone concerned, with a focus on leaving no one behind. This is crucial in addressing novel risks that emerge, skills gaps that need to be addressed and protecting vulnerable workers across supply chains.

A true measure of the green transition

The green transition presents one of the greatest opportunities of our generation. Its success will be evident in the triple bottom line⁹ – its impact on people, planet and the economy. In prioritising purely environmental progress, policymakers and organisations risk delegating the cost of the green transition to the humans least likely to benefit from it.

It is imperative that a truly sustainable future should be good for the environment and good for workers. If workers are paying the price, how just can the transition really be?