The Wage Dynamics team are excited to announce the publication of our research paper using ASHE linked to Census 2011 data, “Working Towards an Environmentally Sustainable and Equitable Future? New Evidence on Green Jobs from Linked Administrative Data in the UK,” now available in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
As the UK accelerates its transition towards a net-zero economy, green jobs are emerging as a key driver of sustainable growth. But are they truly equitable? The study leverages a unique linked administrative dataset to examine the employment characteristics and economic benefits of green occupations.
The findings reveal both opportunities and persistent inequalities. While green jobs offer a pay premium—estimated at 4%—they remain disproportionately occupied by white, male, full-time employees. The research also highlights how collective agreements can boost earnings in green roles, yet union representation is lower in directly green occupations.
Notably, the study finds that while green employment can help mitigate inter-occupational pay disparities, gender and ethnic wage gaps persist within green jobs. Women, particularly those with childcare responsibilities, continue to face pay disadvantages. Sectoral differences also play a role, with traditional industries like manufacturing and construction showing entrenched biases.
These insights underscore the need for inclusive policies to ensure that the green transition benefits all workers. Addressing these inequalities is not only a matter of social justice but also critical for achieving a truly sustainable economy.
The pursuit of an environmentally sustainable and equitable future has never been more critical. In this context, we are excited to announce that Damian Whittard, Associate Professor – University of the West of England and ADR UK Research Fellow, will be presenting his latest study titled “Working Towards an Environmentally Sustainable and Equitable Future? New Evidence on Green Jobs from Linked Administrative Data in the UK” at SESTEF 2024 on December 12th.
A Spotlight on Green Jobs
Green jobs are at the forefront of discussions about transitioning to a low-carbon economy. They represent employment opportunities that contribute to preserving or restoring the environment, whether in traditional sectors like manufacturing and construction or in new, emerging green sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. However, the equitable distribution and accessibility of these jobs remain areas that require deeper understanding and analysis.
Unveiling New Insights with Linked Administrative Data
Damian Whittard’s research leverages linked administrative data (ASHE linked to Census 2011 data, curated by the Wage and Employment Dynamics team) to shed light on the landscape of green jobs in the UK. By linking US O*NET occupation data to this rich data source, he aims to uncover patterns and trends that have previously been obscured due to data limitations. This approach allows for a more nuanced analysis of which groups are accessing green jobs, which employers are creating green jobs and the characteristics of green jobs. The study explores whether there is a pay advantage or deficit for working in green jobs, and if so whether this is shared equally between groups.
Key Themes of the Paper
While the full details of the paper will be unveiled at the conference, several key themes are discussed:
Accessibility and Equity: Investigating whether green jobs are accessible to a diverse workforce, including marginalised communities, and how this impacts social equity.
Economic Implications: Assessing the economic benefits of green jobs for individuals and communities, and how this contributes to broader economic sustainability.
Policy Recommendations: Offering evidence-based suggestions for policymakers to enhance the promotion and equitable distribution of green jobs.
The Significance of SESTEF 2024
SESTEF 2024 serves as a critical platform for academics, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss pressing issues at the intersection of sustainability, environment, and social transition in economics and finance. Damian Whittard’s presentation addresses the core themes of the conference and contributes valuable insights to ongoing debates.
Broader Implications for Policy and Practice
With governments worldwide ramping up investments in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, understanding the dynamics of green jobs has never been more critical. The study extends far beyond academia. Policymakers, employers, and community leaders can draw on his findings to inform the development of training programs, job creation initiatives, and regulatory frameworks that promote both environmental and social goals.
Whittard’s work also speaks to the broader challenges of achieving a just transition—ensuring that the shift to sustainability benefits all communities, particularly those historically marginalised. His presentation at SESTEF 2024 is expected to spark important conversations about balancing environmental imperatives with economic and social equity.
A Step Towards a Sustainable Future
As the world grapples with environmental challenges and seeks pathways to a sustainable future, research like this is crucial. By exploring the dynamics of green jobs through linked administrative data, the study provides a clearer picture of where we stand and what steps need to be taken to move forward effectively.
Join the Conversation
Those interested in the future of sustainable employment and equitable economic transitions are encouraged to attend SESTEF 2024. The conference promises a wealth of knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities with leading experts in the field.
The SESTEF Conference will be hosted by Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University.
For more information on the conference schedule and to register, please visit SEFSTEF 2024
Acknowledgements
The study is co-authored by Professor Peter Bradley, Dr Van Phan and Professor Felix Ritchie. This work is supported by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK). ADR UK is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data, to enable better informed policy decisions that improve people’s lives. ADR UK is an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) investment (part of UK Research and Innovation). [Grant number: ES/T013877/ and ES/Y001184/1].
About ADR UK
ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data, to enable better informed policy decisions that improve people’s lives. By linking together data held by different parts of government and facilitating safe and secure access for accredited researchers to these newly joined-up and deidentified data sets, ADR UK is creating a sustainable body of knowledge about how our society and economy function – tailored to give decision makers the answers they need to solve important policy questions. ADR UK is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation.
In support of contributing to an evidence base to aid the Labour Government’s key mission to promote regional economic growth and the creation of good jobs, a research team from the University of the West of England has analysed data created as part of the Wage and Employment Dynamics (WED) project to explore the unique characteristics of the West of England’s local labour market.
Background
This work was completed in support of the launch of the Futures West Foundation, which aims to establish evidence-based research and insights to tackle the West of England’s long-term challenges to raise productivity, prosperity and innovation. The report begins by providing a national context before focussing on the regional labour market of the Western Gateway Area (WGA) – the WGA includes Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Swindon, and Wiltshire.
By utilising microdata from theAnnual Population Survey (APS) and the enriched Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), researchers explored labour markets and wage trends by focussing on five key sectors: Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Finance and Insurance Services, Creative Industries, Digital Industries, and Environmental Goods and Services.
What we found – national perspective
The article reports the persistence of regional wage disparities with wages remaining highest in London and the South East, while the North East has the lowest average pay. Wage growth, however, was fairly consistent across all regions between the period of observation (2004-2022). The report also notes that during this time, the minimum wage has increased at a faster rate than the median wage, suggesting that lower-paid workers are gaining a larger share of overall earnings. This trend is helping to reduce wage inequality which is demonstrated by the fact that the percentage of workers earning below two-thirds of the national median wage dropping significantly since 2014.
What we found – regional perspective
The data revealed that workers in the WGA earned a wage which was approximately 4% higher than the national average (excluding Greater London), but this reduced to just over 2% after taking other characteristics into consideration. The report estimates that the priority sectors contributed around 7% of this pay premium.
The analysis revealed that this pay advantage is unevenly distributed across the region. The average wage in the West of England was about 11% higher than in Gloucestershire, while higher wages in West of England are primarily driven by jobs in the City of Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The analysis also revealed that employees in Wiltshire (excluding Swindon) earned less than the national comparator group.
At the sector level, the analysis showed that wages in each of the five identified priority sectors are significantly higher compared to other sectors – e.g. those working in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering and Digital industries sector earn approximately 6% and 12% more than the national average. This advantage is further heightened for those working in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering sector in the WGA, who earn around 1.6% more on average than their counterparts in the same sector across the country. Despite employees working in the Digital industries recording above average wages, this advantage is somewhat offset for those working in the WGA. The analysis revealed that Digital industries sector workers in the WGA earned around 3.1% less than the national average for the same sector. This discrepancy is likely to be due to the specific sub-sector composition in the region, but warrants further exploration.
This research highlights the value of using microdata, such as that provided by the WED project. Th use of microdata can enable researchers to provide deeper insights, allowing for effective and targeted policymaking. The findings of this report suggests that priority sectors identified by Futures West are important for boosting living standards and productivity across the WGA. This work therefore provides support for targeted sector approaches.
Damian Whittard is an Associate Professor in Economics and Programme Manager of the Wage and Employment Dynamics Project, where he leads a research programme creating a comprehensive labour market data spine for the UK. As an Academic Assessor for the Government Economic Service and Research Fellow funded by ADR UK, he specializes in economic measurement, labour markets, and green jobs research. His work has been presented at prestigious institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England, and his research has influenced policy through projects with organizations such as the Open Data Institute and the Low Pay Commission. Drawing from his previous experience at the Office for National Statistics and the South West Regional Development Agency, Damian brings extensive expertise in national accounts, regional economics, and evidence-based policy making to his academic role.
