It’s something of a buzzword you probably see and hear all the time for anything that has to do with sustainability, renewable energy, or just plain “going green” — green skills.
If you’ve been keeping up with the trends, then you probably know that green skills are in high demand these days. More companies want to hire people with green skills, and more employers are looking for their staff to develop green skills.
And, at the same time, there’s a global shortage in green skills.
But what exactly does “green skills” refer to? Let’s take a look.
What are Green Skills?
When someone says “green skills,” they’re talking about knowledge and expertise in areas that have to do with the environment.
It refers to a broad skillset that’s about how well someone knows information and theory about areas that deal with the environment, and how well they can apply that expertise to technical problems and/or in practice.
If you’ve ever heard the idiom that someone who gardens well has a “green thumb,” then green skills can be thought of as something similar, in the simplest sense.
But when people talk about green skills, they’re usually talking about a much more advanced level than being able to grow a houseplant (although that is a useful skill in its own right, too).
Green skills can be anything from knowing how to manage a farm, which is a more traditional skill in agriculture, to understanding how to apply advanced technology like satellite imagery to track and monitor climate change effects.
Why Do Green Skills Matter?
Almost everyone is looking to add green skills to their workforce these days because the world is moving towards net zero.
To help slow down climate change and reverse its worst effects, more countries are trying to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
That means more governments, businesses, and individuals are trying to live in greener ways — and to do that, more people with expertise in this field is necessary.
The number of green jobs has increased dramatically over just the past few years alone, and it’s expected that the world needs 200 million more workers with these skills if net zero is to actually be achieved.
A recent study found that 70% of employers are urgently looking to hire people with green skills. There’s no question that these skills are in high demand, and may likely become increasingly so the closer we get to achieving net zero.
If you’re looking for a lucrative industry to join, or thinking long-term about your career path, developing green skills is a good place to start!