green skills 2024Green skills growth trends: Did you know that hiring rates for green skilled professionals are 54.6% higher than the average ones? This is just one of the latest insightful findings from recent quality research around green skills. In this blog Traci Lewis has outlined some of the key findings from these reports including; the top 10 fastest growing technical and soft skills and how young people can access them, along with links and summaries to the full reports for further reading.

 

fastest growing green skillsWhat are the fastest Growing Green Skills?

The fastest-growing green skills reflect the evolving demands of industries transitioning to a more sustainable future. According to the latest LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report 2024, sustainable procurement is the fastest-growing global green skill, with a 15% increase in demand. This skill, vital for reducing environmental impacts in supply chains, complements other in-demand areas such as environmental management, energy efficiency, and carbon accounting. The top 5 for the UK are; Building performance, decarbonisation, low carbon, responsible sourcing and environmental studies.

Deloitte highlights that green skills are becoming integral not only in traditional sustainability roles but across functions like HR, marketing, IT, and finance. For young people, gaining these skills through interdisciplinary education, internships in green-focused organisations, and certifications in areas like renewable energy, sustainable finance, and environmental policy is key to entering this growing market.

 

Top 10 Fastest-Growing Technical and Soft Green Skills

Annika work placementTechnical Green Skills

  1. Carbon Accounting and Management: Measuring, managing, and reducing carbon footprints is critical for businesses and organisations aiming for net-zero goals.
  2. Renewable Energy Technologies: Expertise in solar, wind, and other renewable energy systems is essential as these industries rapidly expand.
  3. Sustainable Construction and Green Building Design: Skills include using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient systems, and waste reduction techniques in construction.
  4. Climate Data Analysis: Analysing environmental data for decision-making and climate forecasting.
  5. Circular Economy Design: Innovating for waste reduction and resource reuse in products and processes.
  6. Sustainable Agriculture: Knowledge of organic farming, permaculture, and eco-friendly food production.
  7. Energy Auditing and Efficiency: Optimising energy use in industries and residential projects.
  8. Sustainability Reporting and Compliance: Creating reports aligned with global standards like GRI or CDP.
  9. Environmental Remediation Technologies: Techniques for cleaning polluted environments, such as soil and water treatment.
  10. Geospatial Analysis for Sustainability: Using GIS tools to map and manage environmental data effectively.

Soft Green Skills

Soft green skills

  1. Environmental Awareness: A foundational understanding of ecological impact and sustainability principles.
  2. Collaboration for Sustainability: Working across disciplines and sectors to achieve environmental goals.
  3. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Innovating practical and impactful sustainability solutions.
  4. Leadership with Empathy: Leading teams through sustainability transitions with a focus on inclusivity and shared purpose.
  5. Adaptability and Growth Mindset: Embracing new technologies and strategies for sustainability.
  6. Effective Communication: Translating complex environmental challenges into actionable insights for various stakeholders.
  7. Project Management for Green Initiatives: Overseeing sustainability projects to ensure maximum environmental and social benefits.
  8. Stakeholder Engagement: Building partnerships and fostering collaboration around sustainability goals.
  9. Cultural Intelligence: Navigating diverse perspectives to implement global sustainability strategies.
  10. Emotional Intelligence: Balancing environmental priorities with human and organizational needs.

These skills reflect a combination of technical expertise and human capabilities essential for the green transition. They highlight the need for integration between environmental knowledge, innovation, and the ability to navigate complex organisational and societal landscapes.

 

Latest Green Skills Reports 

LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report

What are the fastest growing green skills

Want to read the latest green skills research which reveals these trends? Below are listed the links to the latest reports from LinkedIn, Deloitte, KPMG, and Oxford Business School and Climate Change Coaches, which provide valuable insights into global trends along with actionable steps for implementing them.

  1. LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2024
    This report underscores the critical intersection of workforce development and sustainability as the foundation for addressing the climate crisis. A global and strategic effort in upskilling is crucial to closing the green skills gap. This includes focusing on sustainability knowledge, technical expertise, and human-centric capabilities like leadership and collaboration. It offers insights into skill gaps and how organisations can address them. Read the LinkedIn report.
  2. Deloitte’s Green Skills Insights
     Deloitte explores the development of green skills as part of a broader strategy for sustainability. Recent highlights include a green skills training course with the IEMA and findings on the role of policy and collaboration in supporting green workforce transitions. View Deloitte’s perspective.
  3. KPMG’s ESG and Green Jobs Trends
     KPMG has analyzed the link between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and workforce trends, discussing how green skills are reshaping the future of work. Their insights focus on aligning corporate strategies with climate goals through skill-building. Explore KPMG’s insights.
  4. Climate Change Coaches and Oxford Brookes Business School  Their findings underline the growing importance of adaptive, people-centered approaches in sustainability work, complementing technical expertise. While technical expertise remains valuable, only 8% of sustainability professionals prioritize it over soft skills. The most in-demand competencies are coalition building, empowering teams, and setting an inspiring vision. These are vital for enabling effective climate action and stakeholder engagement. Get the report here

How can young people grow their green skills?

  1. Enroll in specialised courses: Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and partnerships with universities offer certifications in sustainability and environmental science.
  2. Internships and apprenticeships: Gain hands-on experience in industries prioritising green practices, such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green construction.
  3. Engage with community programmes: Join grassroots sustainability initiatives or climate action projects to build practical skills and networks.
  4. Join youth training programmes: There are lots of online training opportunities for young people eg. Global Youth Climate Training, Force of Nature, which combine training, practical experience, and networking opportunities. Similarly, joining ours at Catalyse Change will provide direct mentoring, like-minded community and practical pathways into green careers.

Investing in these competencies prepares young professionals for the booming green economy and contributes to achieving global climate goals. If you would like to learn more then join us on Instagram and sign up to our mailing list for our latest newsletter, blogs, training and mentoring programmes. info@catalysechange.com 

All queries contact: Traci Lewis, traci@catalysechange.com  Let’s connect on LinkedIn