Increased interest in sustainability roles despite challenges, reveals Indeed study

Indeed’s latest data shows a significant uptick in interest for sustainability-related jobs, with a 116% increase in ESG/sustainability job postings from 2019 to 2024. Despite this, the path to entering the green job market remains fraught with challenges, according to a survey involving over 1,000 workers and 500 employers in the UK.

A quarter of respondents are willing to take a pay cut for a role that positively impacts environmental sustainability, and 44% are considering retraining to enter the sector. However, barriers such as location, pay, and perceived greenwashing by companies hinder many potential applicants. Notably, 42% of respondents believe their location significantly limits their ability to secure a sustainability job, with those in Northern Ireland feeling the most constrained.

Danny Stacy, head of talent intelligence at Indeed, noted the positive trends but also the need for further support: “With the increasing pressures of climate change, it’s encouraging to see there is a growing interest in sustainability-related jobs from both employers and job seekers in the UK. This shift is reflective of the growing societal, investor, and regulatory expectations,” he said. “In order to take full advantage of this momentum and effectively fill these roles, more education, investment, and incentives are needed to support job seekers and employers throughout the recruitment process.”

The survey also highlighted a generational gap in willingness to take pay cuts for sustainability roles, with 42% of 18-24 year-olds ready to earn less, compared to just 18% of 45-54 year-olds. Misalignment between job seekers’ skills and employers’ expectations persists, with 44% of job seekers feeling that employers are not open enough to transferable skills.

Despite these challenges, there is optimism about the future availability of sustainability roles, particularly following new EU legislation aimed at increasing business sustainability metrics. However, nearly half of the businesses without a current sustainability function do not plan to establish one, underscoring the need for more proactive measures to ensure the growth of this sector.