A feminist green new deal considers women and work in two ways – the revaluing of social care as social infrastructure (adding it’s value to GVA, while also focusing on shifts to a wellbeing economy), and ensuring that women do not lose out on opportunities to gain skills, secure employment and progression in a changing labour market (sectors and occupations introducing AI and digitisation, and in processes of decarbonisation). Women are 7.9% of Agricultural workers, 24.2% of Energy, 18% of Construction, 22% of Transport, 29.9% of Water supply and waste etc., and 25% of ICT.

Without interventions, economic transitions can exacerbate existing labour market inequalities.16 Our review of Welsh Government policies on employability, a fairer greener economy, economic mission, skills for Net Zero, a Just Transition, shows that while some discuss addressing gender, ethnicity, disability and socio-economic inequalities, they lack specific action and outcome measures. For example, how will we know the results of the Welsh Government’s stated intent to ‘ensure equality for groups who might be adversely impacted by the transition’?17 How will we know if delivery of the Net Zero skills action plan has increased women’s take-up of Green Personal Learning Accounts in decarbonising sectors?

This episode discusses the world of work today and how we can remedy the structural inequities that harm us all.