Achieving net-zero targets isn’t the only thing the world is rushing towards. New data from multinational staffing firm ManPowerGroup found there’s just as much of a “global green rush for talent” in the industry.
According to ManPowerGroup’s Global Insights study, the number of employers across the United States that are looking to hire staff who have green skills is rapidly increasing. Of nearly 40,000 companies surveyed, 70% said they are actively recruiting this kind of talent.
“Green skills” generally refers to knowledge and competency in tools, technologies, and theories related to industries that deal with the environment — which can be anything from traditional fields like agriculture and fisheries to the more advanced and rapidly-developing field of renewable energy.
Naturally (no pun intended), it follows that as the world shifts to more environmentally-friendly ways of life, we need the expertise of individuals who can take us there. And recruiters are realizing that.
Net-Zero Will Be Fueled by Human Capital
Businesses around the world aren’t just waiting for net-zero to happen. They’re quickly realizing just how great the need for green skills is, and getting ahead of the game by bringing top talents over to their side right away.
“With the green transition gaining momentum, recruiters and hiring managers around the world are beginning to accelerate their green talent acquisition and upskilling efforts,” ManPowerGroup said in its report.
To study this, the firm surveyed 39,000 employers in 41 countries. The results showed “strong consensus” among leading companies.
“The majority of employers (70%) said they are currently or actively planning to recruit green talent,” the report noted.
Countries Leading the Green Skills Recruitment
The countries with the highest percentages of employers looking for green skills included:
- China (94%) — which already has the highest share of green jobs globally
- India (84%)
- Hong Kong (83%)
- Turkey (81%)
- Costa Rica (79%)
- The United States (75%) was among the top 10 countries with the highest percentages of employers recruiting for green skills, in a tie with Taiwan ROC.
- The United Kingdom stood a little ways behind at 71%.
Key Industries Identified
The fact that recruitment is ramping up for green skills is great news for jobseekers or those looking to start a career in sustainability.
There are dozens of other applications for green skills — and ManPowerGroup’s Global Insights survey shows this is the case.
While the strongest recruiting intentions were for the Energy & Utilities sector (81%), hiring managers surveyed also said they are expressly looking for green skills in:
- Manufacturing & Production (36%)
- Operations & Logistics (31%)
- Information Technology (30%)