Employment and productivity in an era of transitions

The current crisis has confirmed and even accelerated a series of well-established trends in the organization of production. The commitment to ecological transition, the emphasis on short circuits and relocation, the digital transformation and last, the mobilization of employees in the name of a social mission of the corporation are all themes that have come together under the sustainability concept.

While the commitment of companies to a sustainable business model is now quite consensual, the various aspirations and objectives that come under this umbrella are hard to prioritize among or even mutually conflicting: will the integration of digital progress continue to aggravate inequalities by destroying medium-skilled jobs? Can we expect the ecological transition to be highly job-creating and politically acceptable? Does ESG investment favor companies that use fewer workers? How should the responsible investor take the issue of employment into account? What doctrine and governance can best tackle the multiplicity of objectives of socially responsible business?