On the factory and forest floors: Societal change and the green transition of working life

This programme analyses the green transition of working life focusing on industry and forestry, on individual, organizational and policy levels.

It includes a longitudinal survey (n=4200) and approx. 100 narrative interviews with people undertaking vocational transitions, 10-13 qualitative case studies of industry and forestry companies (including approx. 200 interviews with workers, managers and other key persons), and approx. 50 interviews with policymakers, unions and other stakeholders.

The programme investigates the green transition in terms of which types of change that are imaginable on personal, organizational and political levels, which goals that are considered desirable and viable, and achievable in practice.

We also explore whether the green transition is a just transition by studying labor market mobility and the needs for and uses of social security.

We will be able to describe how the green transition is being carried out in practice, how it is experienced and understood by workers, managers, unions and policymakers, how this is related to work conditions, workplace learning and innovation, and to policies at the national and EU level.

We will offer a theoretical and empirical understanding of the multidimensional dynamics that influence the green transition of working life, and how people and organizations adapt and contribute to this transition.

The research group includes a unique blend of expertise including sociology, education, environmental change, political science and business economics.

The programme includes three PhD students who will be engaged in a recently started research school on just transitions.

The programme design ensures state-of-the-art research on working life and climate change, with at least 20 articles, three PhD theses, and several popular science publications.

The results are likely to have high relevance for policy and practice, and we will engage with companies, unions and policymakers to maximize its impact.