The jobs future is green
As debate continues over what to call the new decade, there is little argument about the direction it is heading: green.
Emerging green jobs and green skills will be in demand in the new decade—and there is a crying need for skilled employees in many industries facing skills shortages.
Even in industries with a skills shortage the nature of many jobs will change to include green components.
Nicholas Wyman, CEO of private employment and training organisation WPC Group, says while there are emerging green jobs in industries such as horticulture, water and solar power, almost every job will involve some kind of green skills in the coming years.
“A specific emerging or new area of shortage is green skills, or skills for sustainability,” Mr Wyman said.
“Demand will soar for tradespeople and others able to meet the needs of an environmentally sustainable economy. These needs will range from retail and services to hospitality and tourism and to building and construction.”
Green skills are said to be those needed to adapt to climate change, reduce carbon emissions and offer products and services that allow people and organisations to reduce their environmental footprint.
By the end of the year, every traineeship and apprenticeship in Australia will have a sustainability module embedded in to it.
Interest in green skills is coming from employers and employees alike.
Recent United States research found that three quarters of people entering the workforce consider environmental commitment and social responsibility as important factors when choosing an employer.
Such policies can attract and retain talent while increasing productivity.
These emerging sectors, and industry areas with skills shortages, also offer workers tremendous opportunities to re-skill.
“Current and projected skill shortages are real problems for the labour market and economy,” Wyman says. “Employers are helping themselves, young people and the economy when they take on an apprentice or trainee and think about training in skills for sustainability.”
