Green workforce in tourism and hospitality: A systematic review and future research agenda

This systematic review synthesizes insights from 74 high-ranking journal articles to explore the role of a green workforce in promoting environmental stewardship within the tourism and hospitality industry. Using bibliometric and thematic analysis, the review tracks the development of the green workforce concept, identifies key research themes, and highlights gaps in existing literature. The study proposes 15 research directions to advance understanding and application of employee engagement in sustainability. These propositions aim to refine future research, improve theoretical frameworks, and offer practical guidance for industry leaders. The findings are intended to help managers optimize human resource strategies to bolster sustainability efforts, contributing valuable academic and practical insights to the field. • Synthesizes 74 articles on green workforce via bibliometric and thematic analyses. • Identifies gaps and proposes 15 guiding research propositions. • Frameworks antecedents, consequences, and interventions of the green workforce. • Highlights practical implications for tourism and hospitality management. • Advances understanding of green workforce in global tourism contexts.