Half (49%) of jobseekers don’t have the necessary skills or qualifications for sustainability-related jobs, according to research published today (16 April) by hiring platform Indeed.
A quarter (27%) of employers also face a skills shortage when hiring for sustainability-related jobs, according to the findings.
The same proportion (27%) of jobseekers reported a lack of available positions as a key barrier to entering the green jobs market.
Indeed’s data suggests that there is a disconnect between the growing demand for sustainability-related skills in the job market, and the availability of qualified candidates. It also seems that employers are struggling to fill sustainability-related positions, and that jobseekers feel underqualified to step into them.
According to the research findings, 42% of employers reported that better training for existing employees could help solve the skills shortages they are experiencing. This is an increase from 31% who advocated for better training in 2023.
These findings are not surprising, but they are revealing, said Alexandra Smith, cofounder of sustainability management and reporting platform FuturePlus.
She said: “We work with organisations of all sizes, and one of the most consistent challenges we see is a lack of clarity around what sustainability roles actually involve.
“All too often, these responsibilities are bolted onto existing roles without a clear strategic mandate, KPIs, or the support required to deliver meaningful outcomes. It’s no surprise that jobseekers feel underqualified, and employers are experiencing a talent shortfall.”
Smith added that data-driven insights are crucial when hiring for sustainability-related roles. She said: “Without a clear, measurable framework, hiring for sustainability can become reactive and limited to certain aims such as climate or social, when in reality, a truly sustainable business must consider a much broader set of environmental, social, and governance factors.”
Indeed’s researchers found that 44% of workers place more importance on working in roles that positively impact the environment now, compared to when they first started their careers.
