‘Green Expectations’ the new report from IPPR, written by Claire McNeil with Hannah Thomas reflect on lessons from the US green jobs market for the UK. 

The report picks up on the buzz in the US about green and greener jobs illustrating how the Obama administration, California and other states have given green jobs a national and state strategic role. In comparison the UK approach seems a little lack lustre.

The buzz is down to government leadership, NGO collaborative action with business and community demand for green jobs. There are, however, still concerns as to whether green jobs deserve the fan fare they get.  Green jobs aren’t always necessarily fair jobs with decent wages – in the US 15% jobs in construction, according the report, are paid 22% less than the UK minimum average.  Women only take up 15% of direct green jobs – though this does increase to around 37% if you’re looking at greener jobs. African Americans only represent 11% of the green jobs workforce. Considering green jobs were also a tool to break ‘eco apartheid’ this is pretty disappointing.

But whilst these figures are sobering it’s also worth remembering that the maths behind the figures depends on how green jobs are defined.  As the authors suggest the definition is vexing and they’ve taken green jobs to mean employment in the green economy – both goods and services.  Nonetheless these figures do show that the UK and the US can’t be complacent about ensuring green jobs are fair and accessible for all

The report rightly calls for caution, not only in how green jobs are defined but what lessons the UK picks up from the US.  What’s clear is that on both sides of the Atlantic fulfilling expectations for green jobs can only be fulfilled if supported by strong policy combined with low carbon economic and community activism