|
Listen to this story:
|
- Global demand for green talent grew by 11.6% between 2023 and 2024, double the 5.6% growth in supply.
- By 2030, one in five jobs will lack the green talent needed, with this gap expected to rise to one in two jobs by 2050.
- Job seekers with green skills are hired 54.6% more often than the overall workforce; this figure rises to over 80% in the U.S. and Ireland.
The latest LinkedIn Global Green Skills Gap 2024 report reveals an alarming trend: demand for green talent is surging much faster than its availability. The report shows that while global demand for green talent increased by 11.6% from 2023 to 2024, supply only rose by 5.6%.
LinkedIn defines green talent as professionals with skills directly related to combating climate change or holding roles centered on sustainability. This gap is not only a present challenge but a growing one, threatening to slow climate action initiatives. By 2030, projections indicate that one in five jobs will lack the necessary green talent, and by 2050, half of the jobs in the green economy may remain unfilled unless efforts to expand training and education are accelerated.
Sue Duke, LinkedIn’s Vice President of Public Policy & Economic Graph, emphasized the urgency, stating:
“This data is a wakeup call, and there’s no more time to hit the snooze button. Every single climate goal is at risk if we don’t have a workforce prepared to deliver the change we urgently need. Our data reflects policymakers’ power to shape green talent demand and supply. As governments finalize the next decade of climate commitments, they must include explicit investments to create the green-skilled workforce to combat the climate crisis.”
Additional Key Findings:
- Industry-Specific Demand: The utilities industry leads with the highest demand for green skills, where 23.1% of job postings require them. Construction follows closely with 20.6% of job postings needing green skills.
- Top Growing Green Skill: Sustainable procurement is the fastest-growing green skill globally, with a 15% rise in adoption from 2023 to 2024.
- Technological Growth: The technology, information, and media sector saw the sharpest one-year increase in green skill demand, with a 60% surge between 2023 and 2024.
- Regional Highlights: The UK has the highest percentage of jobs requiring green skills at 13%, with notable increases in Ireland and Saudi Arabia.
- Skill Trends by Region: Notable skill growth includes sustainable building practices in the U.S., green hydrogen expertise in Germany, and solar energy skills in Brazil.
- Gender Gap: Women remain underrepresented in the green workforce, holding only 10% of green skills compared to 17% for men, despite the share of green talent rising faster among women than men.
RELATED ARTICLE: COP29 Achieves Early Success with Consensus on Article 6.4 Carbon Credit Standards
The demand for green skills is highest in industries critical to the climate transition, such as energy, construction, and technology. Notably, job seekers possessing green skills have a significant hiring advantage. Globally, they are 54.6% more likely to be hired, with this figure climbing to 80.3% in the U.S. and 79.8% in Ireland.
The report highlights the fastest-growing green skill: sustainable procurement, which saw a 15% increase in adoption on LinkedIn profiles from 2023 to 2024.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn