Sustainable Employment , Integration and Sustainable Energy Development

This paper considers the development of ‘green’ jobs in Scotland where the government has sought to develop renewable and sustainable energy industries and associated employment. It analyses the government employment forecasts/projections and compares them to the actual results, considering the reasons for the lower actual job creation. While there are some specific skills development initiatives by the government, in general labour market policies have been driven by principles of “Work First” approaches. While moving into work is seen as the main way out of poverty for working-aged unemployed people, in some cases the type of job or job conditions, including in ‘green jobs’, can lead to a cycle of low-pay no-pay due to work being in most cases economically unsustainable. This indicates the need for sustainable work in order to move people out of poverty and if the productive potential of the person is to be realised. Hence the quality of jobs as well as the quantity of ‘green’ jobs is important.