Both workers and employers have spotted a crucial gap in the job market – when it comes to staff having the skills necessary to prepare for greener workplaces in the future.
Over half of business decision makers (55%) are keen to hire new staff who are conscious about climate change, with 57% considering specialised “green” skills as important to their business.
And 43% are prioritising their company's sustainability goals, even despite the cost-of-living crisis – with a third seeing this as an opportunity to future-proof their business.
But many of the 500 business leaders polled are struggling to find staff with the necessary green skills – with finance, and sustainable engineering, being some of the biggest problem industries.
As a result, three in ten (31%) are investing in staff to prepare them for a greener future – by offering on-the-job training and apprenticeships (23%), and investing in professional training to upskill and prepare their existing workforce (26%).
Meanwhile, a separate poll of 2,000 workers have also spotted this gap in the job market – with 27% eyeing up a green job as their next career move, despite many being unsure whether they have the necessary skills.
The research was commissioned by global recruitment experts, Michael Page, part of FTSE 250 PageGroup.
It showed nearly half of those thinking about switching to a green job (47%) are considering work in the renewable energy sector, while many also see sustainable investment and sustainable construction as viable options.
Half of the employed adults considering the switch (49%) wanted a role that positively impacted the planet, while 36% wanted to future-proof their careers.
To ensure their skills are compatible with future green jobs, 28% plan to undergo training related to their current specialism, with 26% exploring online courses to achieve the necessary qualifications.
Joanna Bonnett, head of sustainability at PageGroup, said: “We’re not surprised to learn that so many workers view green industries as a critical career move.
“While this is great news, nearly half of those considering a green job do not believe they have the right skills to do so.
“To ensure the UK succeeds in its green transition efforts, it's crucial for policy makers, businesses, and educational organisations to collaborate and invest in properly preparing the workforce.
“Doing so will create a pipeline of talent that is ready for the jobs of the future, and tackle the green skills shortage – which, if not addressed, could drastically slow down net zero efforts.”
Of the businesses still committed to meeting their sustainability goals, they have committed to reaching an average of five targets – with 40% citing long-term cost savings benefits as the driving force behind implementing these goals.
And the poll of workers, conducted by OnePoll.com, showed 34% of workers claim witnessing the negative impacts to the environment as their primary reason for considering green work.
One in three (33%) had been motivated after watching documentaries about climate change, and 32% were aware that the job market is changing and want to adapt to the times.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) started exploring these green opportunities in just the last two years.
Joanna Bonnett, from PageGroup, added: “With one in five companies currently recruiting for green positions, it is clear they recognise the significance of the green transition, and importantly, the benefits it brings to their business and workforce.”
