SDG commentary: economic services for work and growth for all humans

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) 8 and 9 from a service perspective. SDG 8 is a call to improve the dignity of service work by enhancing wages, working conditions and development opportunities while SDG 9 calls upon nations to construct resilient infrastructures, promote inclusivity and sustainability and foster innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a bibliometric review to extract important themes from a variety of scholarly journals. Findings Researchers tend to investigate policy-level topics, such as national and international standards related to working conditions, while ignoring the experiences or well-being of workers occupying marginalized and low-opportunity roles in service organizations. Service researchers, educators and practitioners must collaborate to improve the state of service industries by conducting participatory action research, promoting grassroots organizing/advocacy, implementing digitized customer service and addressing workforce soft skills deficiencies. Research limitations/implications The authors consider how service work can be transformed into respectable employment and present four specific ways nations can enhance their service industries. Practical implications Economic planners can view SDGs 8 and 9 as a framework for understanding and promoting the well-being of service employees and accelerating the productivity and innovation levels of the service sector. Originality/value The United Nations’ SDGs are examined from a services perspective, which increases their significance in service-dominated economies.