It’s estimated that by 2030, one in five jobs in the green economy will not have enough qualified candidates. By 2050, this figure will rise to one in two jobs.
Though recent news reports suggest the current job market is tough, especially for new college grads, having green skills on your resume can improve your chances of landing a job. (Green skills are those that workers need to align an organization’s economic goals with environmental sustainability goals). Globally, job seekers who have green skills or mention green talent in their LinkedIn or career profile titles are landing jobs 54.6% more often than those without. In the U.S., their chances of being hired are 80.3% higher than those who don’t have green skills.
As global demand for green talent continues to outpace workers with those skills, there has never been a better moment to consider building your resume with an education in sustainability.
The Green Skills Gap By the Numbers
Green skills are growing in demand:
- Global demand for green talent grew twice as quickly as the number of workers with those skills between 2023 and 2024—with demand increasing by 11.6% and supply by 5.6%, according to the 2024 Global Green Skills report by LinkedIn.
- In 2023, 7.3% of job postings on LinkedIn were for a green job or required green skills. In 2024, that figure rose to 7.7%.
- Sustainable Procurement (also commonly referred to as Sustainable Sourcing) is the fastest-growing green skill globally. About 15% more people have added this skill to their LinkedIn profiles in 2024 than 2023.
- Sustainable Procurement managers make an average of $128,453 annually, according to Salary.com. This figure depends on location, with the average salary hitting $141,684 in California and $139,795 in Massachusetts. Other roles, like a Sustainability Analyst, can help you earn $122,624 per year on average, ZipRecruiter reports.
- Energy production and utilities, manufacturing, construction, and technology, information, and media will be the industries most pivotal to growing the green workforce, according to the report.
- Other in-demand jobs and average annual salary ranges include: Supply Chain Sustainability Analyst ($70,000 to $105,000), Energy Efficiency Consultant ($70,000 to $110,000), Renewable Energy Project Manager ($95,000 to $130,000), and Sustainable AI Engineer ($110,000 to $180,0000).
The demand for green talent is highest in the utilities industry, thanks to renewable energy expansion. Right now, almost a quarter of all job postings in this industry (23.1%) require green skills.
The media, information, and technology industries also saw a green talent spike between 2023 and 2024. The number of jobs requiring green skills rose 60% as more companies embrace AI and concerns about significant water and energy use increase. If you already have a solid base of tech skills, adding green skills can only help you break through an ever-changing market.
The green workforce, like many industries, is also experiencing a growing gender gap. About 17% of men have at least one green skill, compared to just 10% of women. The report estimates that the gap is widening by about 0.17 percentage points annually. While the share of green talent has risen by 12% for women and 8.3% for men since 2023, this growth is still too slow to close the gap.
Where Do You Fit Into the Green Workforce?
If you’re passionate about sustainability and want to enhance your current skillset, know that there’s never been a better time to upskill! UW Online Collaboratives has helped many working professionals successfully transition into new careers by building their green skills in one of our programs.
For example, alum 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 the corporate office of 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.
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.”
Interested in Earning a Degree or Certificate in Sustainability?
If you’re looking to develop green skills to make you more marketable in the sustainability field, consider earning a degree or graduate certificate to boost your chances of getting hired. Or, upskill to prove to your employer (and future employers) that you are committed to learning and ready to adapt to change.
Graduates of the 100% online University of Wisconsin Sustainable Management bachelor’s, master’s and certificate programs have pursued sustainability careers across a wide range of industries. These programs offer working adults the flexibility to study when it’s convenient for them, regardless of full-time jobs, family obligations, or hobbies.
Degrees:
Certificates:
- Climate Leadership-Graduate Certificate
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-Graduate Certificate
- Environmental Sustainability-Undergraduate Certificate
- Sustainability and Well-being-Graduate Certificate
- Sustainable Enterprise-Undergraduate Certificate
To find out more about our sustainability programs, contact an enrollment adviser by calling 1-877-895-3276 or emailing learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.