India’s economic growth has been accompanied by a paradox of jobless growth, with the economy averaging 6.5% annual growth over the last decade, but employment generation lagging behind. However, sustainability and the green economy offer a compelling economic case for job creation, with the potential to generate millions of green jobs while boosting sustainability. The International Labour Organisation projects that India could gain 8 million additional green jobs by 2030, with renewable energy alone having the potential to directly and indirectly employ over a million people.
The green transition is already underway, with India’s renewable capacity touching 190 GW by mid-2025, and the Central Electricity Authority targeting 500 GW by 2030. Renewable energy, electric mobility, and recycling are some of the key sectors that could generate green jobs. Renewable energy could directly employ 1 million workers and indirectly sustain 2-3 million more by the end of the decade. Electric mobility, with the EV ecosystem expected to generate 10 million jobs by 2035, and recycling, with the potential to generate 15 million jobs by 2030, are also significant areas of opportunity.
Green construction, regenerative agriculture, and circular economy are other sectors that could create millions of jobs. Green construction could create 3.5 million jobs by 2030, while regenerative agriculture could add 6-7 million rural jobs by 2030. The circular economy, with the recycling market projected to touch $20 billion by 2028, could generate 15 million jobs by 2030.
However, green hiring is still largely confined to metros, and inclusivity remains weak, with women making up only 11-12% of green jobs. To unlock the potential of green jobs, India needs a coordinated strategy, including a “National Green Skills Mission 2.0” that weaves climate literacy and vocational training into ITIs, polytechnics, and schools. Green MSMEs need credit lines and tax incentives, and climate finance should tie investment to measurable job creation.
The lesson from global experience is that jobs emerge from deliberate policy, not technology alone. Germany’s Energiewende has created over 300,000 renewable jobs since 2000, and South Korea’s Green New Deal targets 659,000 jobs with a focus on youth and vulnerable groups. India can position itself as a global supplier of green talent, exporting technicians, engineers, and ESG specialists to markets in the Middle East and Africa.
In conclusion, the green economy has the potential to turn India’s jobs paradox into its greatest economic strength. With the right mix of investment, skills, and strategy, India can unlock the potential of green jobs and create millions of livelihoods while boosting sustainability. The test of the transition will not be gigawatts installed or carbon avoided, but livelihoods created. Sustainability is not only about emissions targets; it is about jobs and inclusion, and India has the opportunity to create a green economy that is both environmentally sustainable and economically vibrant.