Greening the Workforce: Net Zero Skills for a Sustainable Future

• Greening the workforce is integral to a successful Net Zero transition: Government and business commitments to low-carbon initiatives can’t be fulfilled without a well-skilled labour market.
• Rising demand for Green skills: The UK saw a threefold increase in Net Zero job openings during 2022 compared to the previous year.
• Current skills misalignment: Seven out of eight workers lack Net Zero skills or experience.
• Emerging talent pipeline gap: 71% of young people (aged 16-24) say they’re driven by the desire to combat climate change, and 80% are more likely to choose to work for an organisation with a Green agenda. Yet only one in ten currently has a clear understanding of what Green skills entail.
• Net Zero upskilling and reskilling require close coordination and collaboration between the government and businesses: Stakeholders should not only concentrate on successful skill development but also on monitoring progress, setting cross-sector goals that consider the unique aspects of each industry, implementing interventions, and forecasting future needs.