SINGAPORE, May 16, 2023 — A new report, published by global non-profit The Bridgespan Group and supported by global financial services firm J.P. Morgan, calls for collective efforts from governments, funders, non-profit organisations, employers, and investors to ensure green jobs become accessible and inclusive in Southeast Asia.

The report, titled Promoting Equitable and Inclusive Green Job Growth in Southeast Asia, identifies over 30 entry-level jobs in five key sectors that have the highest employment potential in the green economy across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sectors include solar (renewable energy), built environment, sustainable farming, electric mobility, and waste management. In driving green job growth, these sectors can help generate US$150 billion in economic opportunity by 2030¹. To support accessibility to such jobs, the research outlines recommendations for upskilling the workforce, especially underserved communities.

“While Southeast Asian countries have adopted policies that demonstrate a commitment to green growth, we still have some way to go in driving the green economy, especially in supporting the community for meaningful employment. To ensure that the US$150 billion economic opportunity is realised, all stakeholders will need to work together to improve data availability on green jobs, improve accessibility and ensure that these jobs improve lives,” said Xueling Lee, a principal at The Bridgespan Group and co-author of the report.

Findings from interviews with 80 industry experts, employers and work training organisations, reveal that powering green jobs for underserved individuals and communities requires public policies and private financing to work hand-in-hand. It outlines the following recommendations for governments, funders, non-profit organisations, employers, and investors to ensure the emerging green economy leaves no one behind:

• Coordinate green jobs and skills data and definitions: Facilitate data sharing using common definitions of and skills among important stakeholders, such as industry associations and job training organizations. This would help Identify green jobs in demand today and in the next 5-10 years.
• Improve accessibility: Bridge demand-supply gaps by connecting green job vacancies with potential employees, develop equitable hiring processes and help individuals acquire skills to aid job placement.
• Improve job quality with economic benefits: Ensure green jobs pay a living wage and provide safe working conditions, with social protection benefits such as medical and unemployment protection.

While many of the jobs fall within traditional sectors such as manufacturing and construction, there are also new, emerging sectors like renewable energy and electric mobility, all of which would require significant upskilling of the workforce and changes in business practices. The report acknowledges that “little attention” has been “devoted to preparing underserved individuals and communities,” or those who fall below their nation’s poverty line and have been historically marginalised because of their gender, employment status in the informal sector or rural economy.

“No one should be left behind in the transition to a green economy,” said Maneesha Chadha, who heads philanthropic initiatives in Asia-Pacific for J.P. Morgan. “We believe that an inclusive, diverse workforce is critical to building a talent pool for a cleaner, more sustainable and more equitable Southeast Asia for everyone.”

The study, which is supported by J.P. Morgan, explores the emerging green jobs landscape in the region. It identifies electric mobility, built environment, sustainable farming, solar (renewable energy) and waste management as sectors with the highest economic growth and employment potential, and outlines recommendations to support underserved communities in accessing green jobs as these sectors transform to become more sustainable.

The research focused on six of Southeast Asia’s nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Bridgespan conducted about 80 interviews with industry experts, employers and work training organizations, and leverage multiple reports in its analysis. The green jobs with high employment potential were each evaluated with these criteria: accessibility based on required skills and credentials, health and safety risks, and career progression prospects.

The Bridgespan Group (www.bridgespan.org) is a global nonprofit that collaborates with social change organisations, philanthropists, and impact investors to make the world more equitable and just. Bridgespan’s services include strategy consulting and advising, sourcing and diligence, and leadership team support. We take what we learn from this work and build on it with original research, identifying best practices and innovative ideas to share with the social sector. We work from locations in Boston, Johannesburg, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, and Singapore.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorgan Chase had $3.7 trillion in assets and $303 billion in stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2023.

The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally.

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