A web poll by Hays found that 64% of employers need to do more to support employees in being sustainable, while 52% said there needs to be an increase in environmental and sustainability-related skills within their organisation, with only 5% feeling adequately equipped. With the Net-Zero Coalition targets to achieve zero carbon emission by 2050 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on the horizon, implementing green skills and sustainable culture has become more important than ever.
The Hays poll also reveals that an overwhelming 87% of respondents consider an organisation’s green commitment to be important. According to the Deloitte paper, 50% of Gen Z and 46% of Millennials claim that they are putting pressure on their employers to act on climate change. However, just 15% and 16% respectively believe that they can make an impact. The green transition will lead to almost all jobs requiring a sustainable aspect in their role by law, making green skills an essential factor for leaders to prioritise when planning their workforce strategies.
The lack of professionals with the necessary sustainable skills, is contributing to a growing green skills gap. The disparity between the demand for and the supply of green skills requires immediate attention. To address this mismatch, organisations need to upskill their workforce and identify individuals with transferable skills. By leveraging the knowledge and experience within their workforce, organisations can enhance these skills to benefit both employees and employers. This approach not only helps to address the green skills shortage, but it will also encourage a culture of continuous learning and development.
Kirsty Green-Mann, Global Head of Sustainability at Hays, comments:
"The survey highlights what employees think of their workplace’s current sustainability commitment, along with what they hope to see moving forward. It is crucial that organisations and business leaders continually review their sustainability efforts while seeking improvements and feedback.
“Additionally, companies need to embrace sustainability expectations from the new emerging generation and recognise this as an opportunity. They are more open to the challenge and could be better equipped with green skills than the current workforce, making them valuable contributors to a sustainable future. There is work to be done at multiple levels of the organisations, such as managerial positions role modelling, leaders actively looking at the governance and strategic integration, and juniors being empowered to raise ideas and take action for more sustainable practices in the workplace.”