Green employment puts stress on the labor market

What are the most requested profiles? Whats Skills are they the most sought after? What do companies need to face the regulatory tsunami in the area of sustainability? Is there a gap between demand for professionals and supply?

Regulatory pressure, the need to manage climate and social risks, and the interest of investors in companies with strong social and environmental commitments have strained the labor market with skills and experience in sustainability.

It is estimated that worldwide they will be created 24 million new “green jobs” by 2030, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

In 2025, the development of green talent in Spain is emerging as a key factor in accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy. This evolution responds to the growing demand for professionals specialized in areas such as sustainability, renewable energy, the circular economy and climate technology.

Jobs linked to sustainability in Spain will grow by 44% between 2023 and 2026, according to some estimates. Areas such as renewable energy, waste management and ESG (environmental, social and governance) consulting are leading these contracts.

In Spain, this situation translates into a deficit of one million young people with sustainable skills. In our country, the situation is even more challenging because Demand for green talent grows 50% annually, ten times faster than supply. This disparity underlines the need to accelerate training and skill development in this field.

But the need to increase green talent is not a phenomenon exclusive to Spain. The European Commission forecasts the creation of 18 million new green jobs worldwide by 2030.

Committing to the development of this talent will be essential to face the challenges of climate change and to lead the transition to a fairer and more sustainable economy, and companies that invest in the training and retention of this talent will be better positioned to lead the change.

The challenge is an enormous opportunity in terms of employment. It is estimated that sustainability-related jobs will represent up to 10% of total employment in Spain by 2030, doubling current figures.

LThe demand is such that companies are finding it difficult to fill vacancies internally and are selecting candidates outside the organization. More than 70% of vacant positions in sustainability are being filled through external recruitment, due to a lack of internal training.

Between 2023 and 2024, global demand for talent with green skills increased by 11.6%, while supply grew by only 5.6%. This discrepancy indicates that demand is growing twice as fast as supply, underlining the need for specialized academic training.

In spite of this, the Generation Z, aware of climate change, is not sufficiently prepared in terms of green skills and, according to LinkedIn's Global Green Skills Report 2024, only 1 in 20 employees has knowledge and experience in this area.

Un Gap which is also perceived, according to the same study, Among women who, despite the progress, are still underrepresented in positions related to sustainability and climate change.

Have training in this area improves employability. Hires with at least one “green” skill have a 54% higher hiring rate than the labor market average.

THE SECTORS THAT DRIVE THE MOST

By sector, Those who are pulling the most out of the demand for green skills are the Utilities, which lead demand, with 23.1% of job offers, driven by the expansion of renewable energy.

It is followed by the sector of construction, which accounts for 20.6% of job offers, and the sector Manufacturer which seeks to decarbonize its supply chains and products and accumulates 13.2% of job offers.

El Sustainable Transport and Mobility with the development of electric vehicles and sustainable infrastructure, it is pulling demand and boosting the Sustainable Agriculture, with the transition to more sustainable agricultural practices.

Among the stands related to sustainability Most in demand by companies, the following stand out:

1. ESG Controllers: An emerging role, especially in financial departments, that combines financial management with compliance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.
2. Sustainability and ESG managers: Professionals responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies and reporting on the company's environmental and social performance.
3. Specialists in circular economy: Dedicated to designing and monitoring processes that maximize the efficient use of resources and reduce waste.
4. Experts in decarbonization and climate change: Aimed at implementing strategies for the reduction of carbon emissions, especially those linked to the reach 3 footprint in value chains.
5. Sustainability Consultants: External professionals who advise companies on the integration of sustainable practices into their operations and strategies.
6. Analysts of social and environmental impact: Focused on measuring and evaluating the impact of company activities on the environment and society.
7. Specialists in regulatory compliance (ESG Compliance): Responsible for ensuring that companies comply with regulations related to sustainability, such as the CSRD or the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
8. Managers of impact projects: Professionals who lead specific initiatives to generate positive social or environmental impact.

The rapid growth in demand for green professionals poses a significant challenge because while global demand for green professionals is growing at 11.6% per year, supply is growing at only 5.6%.

This frantic increase in demand has generated a wage bubble. According to data from Glassdoor, the The average annual salary of a director of Sustainability in Spain is 45% higher than that of other directors at the same level.

These wage differences reflect the growing strategic importance of sustainability in organizations and the intense demand for specialized professionals in this field.

This article was published as an opinion forum within Co-Responsible.