Sustainability and labour market can be translated on several levels. First of all, the sustainability of the labour market itself: how do we keep the workforce up to standard in a shortage shaped by demographics while at the same time the work is changing more than ever? This requires permanent resilience of workers and sharp(er) choices in the deployment of the scarce factor labour.
Moreover, this scarce factor labour is crucial for the major sustainability transitions we face as a society: from installing solar panels to circular construction, without a workforce, the transitions will be too slow.
In conclusion, a sustainable workforce means that labour should not be considered a ‘disposable commodity’. Here and now, elsewhere and later. Outsourcing work to third countries that act 'unsustainably' on green and social issues does not fit into a sustainable workforce vision. But how do we organize this while maintaining economic growth and broad prosperity? These three subdomains of 'sustainable workforce' are the focus of our research and education.
Our team
Ruben HouwelingEmail address
Moa van MinnenEmail address
Niels PhilipsenEmail address