Ecological transition drives demand for green skills in the workforce

The ecological transition is fundamentally reshaping the labor market by driving the demand for ‘green skills.’ This evolution manifests in two ways: the emergence of entirely new environmental roles, such as photovoltaic project managers and hydraulic engineers, and the ‘greening’ of existing professions. For instance, legal professionals are increasingly specializing in environmental law, and sales roles are incorporating product environmental impact analysis.

Despite these shifts, many organizations are struggling to prepare for these changes. Data from APEC indicates that only 13% of companies are currently anticipating the impacts of the ecological transition on their future human resources and skill requirements. As international agreements like COP 28 aim to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, the pressure to develop expertise in carbon footprints, life cycle analysis, and waste management continues to grow.