Paving the way for sustainable green growth in G10 economies: Perspectives on green manufacturing employment and renewable energy employment

Abstract

This study probed the contributions of green manufacturing (GM) and green energy (GE) employment to green growth (GRG) in the group of ten economies spanning 2000 to 2022. The study also explored the moderating implications of energy, economic, and information and communication technology (ICT) diversification, as well as energy uncertainties. Insights from the method of moments quantile regression estimator underscore notable heterogeneous effects over the distributions of GRG, typifying cross-sectional nuances, and varying degrees of green job adaptations. Findings established that GM employment enhanced GRG more substantially in France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the US. In contrast, GE employment contributed to GRG, mainly in Canada, Japan, Sweden, and the US. This underscores the potential of green jobs as a green growth-enhancing factor in G10 countries. Hence, these countries are encouraged to adopt these non-traditional decent jobs to attain sustainable development goals 7 and 13. Improved financing, tax holidays, and other administrative incentives could be extended to all organizations championing this paradigm shift in the work environments. Likewise, these countries should improve the depth of energy, economic, and ICT diversification to harness their full potential for environmental progress. Not least, G10 countries must ensure self-sufficiency in energy supply to reduce the adverse implications of energy uncertainties on green growth.