‘Green’ jobs soar by 93pc but fewer people applying over fears of low pay

Businesses in the sector are struggling to recruit because they believe some jobseekers think they will get low pay.

But most workers say they would be willing to upskill for a green job, according to a new survey.

Research by jobs website Indeed shows that green job postings are up 93pc since 2019, but jobseeker searches for vacancies fell by 7pc over the same period.

New and emerging green jobs might include wind energy engineers, solar panel installers, or construction workers or farmers whose work practices have been adapted to reduce emissions.

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Jack Kennedy, senior economist at Indeed said sustainability is now one of the key considerations at the top of everyone’s agenda.

He said the need for professionals in this area continues to grow across a variety of industries as ESG (Environmental Social Governance) considerations become a standard part of doing business.

Mr Kennedy said the EU recently mandated non-financial ESG reporting for businesses with over 500 employees, which began this year.

“Integration of ESG requirements in business reporting like this means ESG and sustainability roles will soon become as integral to businesses as finance or marketing,” he said.

He said there is a mismatch between demand and supply.

“People are not fully aware of job opportunities and tend to consider themselves unprepared in this area,” he said.

He said the positive news is that the majority of workers are open to retraining in the area of sustainability.

“In addition to investing in new generations and those who are about to enter the workforce, it will also be essential to focus on upskilling the current workforce to meet demand, he said. “Ultimately, this will be necessary not only to meet the needs of the growing job market but also strengthen Ireland’s green transition efforts.”

The Indeed survey found that 89pc of employers and employees agree that effective sustainability practices and policies are important to the future success of the country.

Some 72pc of employers have a department or manager dedicated to sustainability or ESG in their organisation.

Those in architecture, building and engineering are most likely to have the biggest ESG departments.

A third of employers said there is a lack of candidates with the right skills and 28pc were not sure where to find them.

The survey found most workers thought these types of roles were only found within certain industries. A total of 40pc of employees think they are not well-paid, however 59pc believe that jobs in the sector are interesting and varied.

Many are not well informed about the type of jobs available in sustainability while 39pc are unsure about the kind of qualifications needed to work in the area. Almost a third felt there were not enough job opportunities.