The International Labour Organization has reported a significant rise in environmental, social and governance engagement among Employer and Business Membership Organisations, driven by growing demand from their members worldwide. Findings from a new ILO ACT/EMP survey show that ESG has evolved from a voluntary good practice into a core element of business competitiveness and resilience across regions.
The 2025 global survey, conducted under the ILO’s LEADER Programme, gathered insights from 90 employer and business membership organisations in 65 countries. The results demonstrate a strong upward trend in ESG demand, with a large majority of organisations reporting increased interest in ESG services over the past five years and expecting further growth in the near term. Regions that previously experienced slower uptake are now anticipating sharper increases, highlighting the expanding global relevance of ESG.
Many organisations are also embedding ESG within their own operations to better understand the challenges their members face. While some already have dedicated ESG strategies in place, others are actively developing them, focusing on areas such as employee wellbeing, ethical business conduct, corporate governance and environmental responsibility. These internal efforts are helping organisations align practice with advocacy.
Businesses increasingly rely on their representative organisations for guidance on regulatory compliance and the business case for sustainability. In response, employer and business organisations are expanding training, workshops and information-sharing activities to help companies adapt to evolving sustainability standards and reporting requirements. Support from the ILO is strengthening this role by providing data and practical tools to integrate ESG more effectively into core services.
The survey also highlights that medium and large enterprises are the primary users of ESG services, with strong engagement from sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, construction and financial services. These patterns reflect both regulatory pressures and the pursuit of efficiency, market access and long-term resilience in competitive environments.
Overall, the findings confirm that ESG is now a shared and strategic priority for business organisations and their members. By embedding sustainability into their services, employer and business membership organisations are enhancing their own relevance and influence while supporting enterprises to deliver decent work, inclusive growth and sustainable economic development at national and regional levels.
