With efforts to create more green jobs ramping up (with the UK government aiming for two million roles by 2030), could we be on the cusp of a ‘War for Green Talent’?
Boosting Green job creation is part of the government's "green industrial revolution" plan, with £4bn earmarked for creating these Green jobs over the next 8 years. But, can the candidate market keep up with demand especially outside of the traditional geographies? And, considering the pre-Covid talent pool was already below the current levels of demand, which are set to increase further, how are organisations going to find the right matches for their roles?
If we see Green jobs as jobs that directly (or even indirectly) contribute to mitigating climate change, this can cover a wealth of industry sectors and specialisms. At Allen & York we have seen exponential growth in the demand for Sustainability and Environmental professionals and for Senior Renewables specialists in the last 18 months, and predict this trend will continue throughout 2022.
PwC reported that work was needed to ensure the move to a Net Zero economy does not add to regional employment inequalities. With Wales, Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and the Humber already lagging behind other areas of the UK in terms the Green transition, unsurprisingly, Scotland and London appeared as the top performers in terms of job creation. More needs to be done to ensure an even spread of opportunity. Employers also need to think about how they will attract and retain the best talent for their roles if they’re outside of the traditional hot spots. Having a point of difference, strong employer brand and good work/life balance will all be pre-requisites.
Undeniably, it’s good news for everyone that jobs are getting greener but the distribution of skills need to be spread across the UK, to keep attracting new blood into the Green economy and to future-proof organisations doing what they can to meet the 2050 Net Zero target.
As McKinsey said “The best workers do the best and the most work. But many companies do an awful job of finding and keeping them”. If you’re struggling to find talent, we can help. We’ve been recruiting in the Green economy since 1993. Get in touch to find out more about our Executive Search & Recruitment services, at: hello@allen-york.com
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