14 Jun Green jobs makes up one in three UK job postings, but skills shortage remains a challenge
The latest global green skills report published by LinkedIn suggests that one-third of job postings on the platform in the UK over the last year have been within the green economy. The skills report suggests how the green jobs market is growing so fast that training programs to upskill and reskill professionals aren’t maintaining pace.
As a result, there is a rising demand for than the supply of skilled workers in many sectors, including the UK. Every year, the report indicates that green job postings were 15.2% higher year on year, despite a slight decline in overall job postings. The UK represents the highest proportion of all jobs accounted for by green roles, standing at 33%.
The LinkedIn study incorporates green roles within low-carbon industries, like electric vehicle manufacturing or renewable energy, but also in corporate sustainability positions, such as chief sustainability officer or climate action manager. Three of the top ten fastest-growing job roles on LinkedIn from 2018 to 2022 were within the green economy. Sustainability analysts represented the highest of the three, followed by sustainability specialists and managers.
While this accelerated rise in sustainability and green roles is positive, there are concerns regarding the training and education system and how employers can prepare people for the jobs of the future. Worldwide, green job postings increased nearly twice as fast as the rate of green talent between 2022 and 2023. Additional data from LinkedIn suggests that 81% of employees who have moved into green jobs have some green skills or previous experience. The talent challenge experienced in the UK is happening worldwide, but the LinkedIn report suggests a significant gap in demand and available talent within the UK. Only one in eight workers in the UK contain green skills, compared to one in seven in France and one in six in Germany. Sue Duke, the head of global public policy at LinkedIn, explains that it isn’t enough to create additional green jobs and expects people to fill these roles. Without the necessary training and skills, their new job markets can be challenging for people to participate in.
Duke emphasises that we need to make it as simple as possible for people to shift to green jobs, and that requires combined action from policymakers, businesses and educational groups. Targeted and specific reskilling measures and on-site training are vital to delivering a workforce with the necessary skills to tackle the climate challenge. The UK is yet to produce a comprehensive new skills strategy since the election of 2023. The plan includes a target to place two million people in green jobs by 2030 but will require significant structured plans to achieve this.
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