The aim of SDG 8
The aim of SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth is to promote sustained, inclusive economic growth and productive employment for all, reducing unemployment. It focuses on fair wages, safe workplaces, and opportunities for all skill levels.
Further resources
The website of the United Nations gives more insights into this SDG, its targets and indicators as well as its worlwide progress.
The website of the Global Goals also gives more information on the single targets, but also on possible actions, and further resources.
Our World in Data provides data on SDG 8 to promote sustainned, incluse and sustainable economic growth, full and prodcutive employment and decent work for all.
Connection to tourism
The sector can generate quality jobs, fair wages, and social protection across tourism value chains. It promotes inclusive growth by ensuring opportunities for youth, women, and marginalized groups. Safe work conditions and ethical business practices are essential for sustainable development. Investments in infrastructure and innovation support resilient, long-term employment.
Good practices
WE. Employees for Employees is an initiative of the tourism association, which tries to build strong connections between employees in our region not only improve the atmosphere in the workplace, but can also increase general well-being. The initiative was launched, in which employees from various businesses and the tourism association support employees in finding a place to feel at home in the Pillerseetal valley. This includes job search, career planning, mobility, personal development, special staff events, training offers, information about the region, leisure activities, a shop and other steps to create interpersonal relationships and offer room for people to connect.
Alpenresort Schwarz fosters SDG 8 through its comprehensive employee health program that reduces sick days, boosts retention, and maintains a stable workforce of 370 staff, ensuring reliable service quality and sustained business operations in the competitive alpine tourism sector. By prioritizing local procurement from Tyrolean farmers for food products and channeling 6 million euros in staff house investments to regional businesses, the resort stimulates the Mieminger Plateau economy, creates jobs in sustainable supply chains, and earned the TRIGOS Tirol 2020 award for exemplary responsible business practices. These initiatives drive long-term growth by minimizing waste (45% residual waste reduction), implementing energy-efficient infrastructure like solar systems and biogas plants from food leftovers, and attracting eco-conscious guests through certifications like the Austrian Eco-label, positioning the resort as a model for holistic economic resilience.
The Interreg Bavaria-Austria project NEW WORK enhances tourism job attractiveness by developing cross-border strategies for flexible work models, digital training platforms, and innovative HR practices tailored to alpine regions like Tyrol and Upper Bavaria. It supports skill-building workshops, employer-employee matching tools, and pilot programs for work-life integration (e.g., remote-hybrid roles and seasonal upskilling), reducing turnover in labor-short destinations while fostering economic resilience through 30+ partner networks. By addressing recruitment challenges via joint action plans and competency acquisition, NEW WORK secures long-term employment in sustainable tourism, aligning with SDG 8 objectives for decent work and regional growth.
