If you’re a working professional who is interested in making a difference in the world, and possibly a career change, you might want to consider a role that involves sustainability.
Why? Because the number of companies looking to hire employees with green or sustainable skills is significantly increasing–though not as quickly as the number of employees with “green talent.” Only one in eight workers today has green skills, according to the 2023 Global Green Skills Report–what LinkedIn calls the “green skills gap”. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of jobs requiring at least one green skill grew by a median of 22.4 percent, almost double the share of green talent in the workforce which rose by a median of 12.3 percent.
The five-year annualized growth rate between 2018 and 2023 reveals that the share of green talent grew by 5.4 percent per year over that period, while the share of jobs requiring at least one green skill grew by 9.2 percent. Overall hiring slowed globally between February 2022 and February 2023, but job postings requiring at least one green skill have grown by a median of 15.2 percent over the same period. The median LinkedIn hiring rate for workers with at least one green skill is 29 percent higher than the workforce average.
“The magnitude and urgency of the climate change problem requires that today’s workers learn green skills on the job. By identifying the most relevant green skills for each role and industry, we can develop targeted, tailored reskilling programs,” the report adds.
If you’re interested in reskilling so that you can join the green talent pool, the Universities of Wisconsin offer bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs in sustainability to help students develop critical skills and knowledge in climate science, leadership, and ESG reporting. Many graduates of these programs have been able to find new opportunities or focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility within their existing roles.
Lauren Fortin was working in the mortgage industry but knew it wasn’t the right fit for her long-term. So she decided to look for a master’s degree program that could empower her to change careers. After graduating from UW-Green Bay with her master’s degree in Sustainable Management, she landed a job at Kwik Trip, a chain of gas stations and convenience stores headquartered in Wisconsin, where she analyzes the company’s energy consumption and implements sustainable business practices.
Learn more about our 100% online degree and certificate programs.
Get Program Guide
If you’re committed to your current company, there are always ways to embrace sustainability and maybe even take on a role or project that could set you up for a future position. Amber Mose, a graduate of the Master of Science in Sustainable Management program, began pursuing her interests in sustainability while employed at Enerpac. Enerpac ended up creating a sustainability specialist position just for her.
Erin Bauer, another Sustainable Management graduate, became a subject matter expert in sustainability at her organization, the American Society of Quality. Erin had previously been in the business world with many years of retail experience.
“I like the fact that I’ve carved out a niche spot for myself within my org, and can act as a subject matter expert. Coming from the retail and marketing world, I used to be a subject matter expert in digital merchandising and online engagement,” she says. My focus now is on honing my [sustainability] skills. I’m excited to be done with my degree and think about all the different projects and opportunities that are potentially available.”
Amy Kostelansky, a student in the Master of Science in Sustainable Management program, took on a role in corporate social responsibility for her fashion company after seeing a documentary exploring the social aspects of manufacturing in third-world countries.
“That really frightened me, and it made me feel horrible knowing that working in the fashion industry that my company could be complicit in that,” Amy says. “I know that we’re very socially compliant, so I know that we’re not. However, it just kind of woke something up in me. I asked the company if anything came up related to sustainability to consider involving me. I helped launch a sustainable swimwear line for Kohl’s. And then in 2021, I became part of the newly created Corporate Social Responsibility team.”
If you’re unable to secure a sustainability role within your current organization or want to find a new gig, consider joining a professional association to network with others who share the same interests. Many individuals who are part of these organizations may know of job openings or are involved with recruiting. You can check out Sustainable Career Pathways for advice and job boards.
Or, you can join a local sustainability group in your community or engage in volunteer efforts to complement your professional work. Tayler Roal, who completed the Sustainability and Well-Being Certificate, has already put his education to use as a local artist who creates media using sustainable materials and as a member of the Sustainable Neenah Committee. The committee promotes sustainability measures in Neenah, Wisconsin, while increasing public awareness about programs and services to reduce waste and maximize energy efficiency.
As part of his coursework, Tayler created a plan for how downtown Neenah could be more sustainable. The committee has also sold 50-gallon barrel drums for rainwater collection. The drums, donated by the local fire department, were purchased by community members interested in saving water for things like gardening. Tayler also worked on the mobile app, Better Bin, that serves Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown counties so they can find places to recycle or dispose of products like batteries.
Are you interested in learning more about how an education from UW Online Collaboratives in sustainability-related topics can help you? Contact us at learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu to find out more how one of our programs can help you achieve your personal and professional goals.