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A new World Economic Forum (WEF) report highlights how the green economy is now a major driver of job growth, innovation, and change across the global workforce. As governments, industries, and organizations work to cut carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy, new green jobs are appearing, and existing roles are being restructured across every sector.
The WEF predicts substantial worldwide job growth by 2030, with an estimated 5 million new jobs in climate change adaptation, 3 million in climate change mitigation, and 1 million in energy generation, storage, and distribution. While many of these roles are designed for green specialists, there is also a rising demand for workers with strong transferable skills.
What does this transition mean for the future of work? Which skills will matter most as sustainability becomes a core priority for employers? And how can today’s workforce prepare for the opportunities emerging within this greener global economy?
The Fastest-Growing Green Jobs Right Now
Green jobs have transitioned firmly into the mainstream. Once limited to niche sectors, they are now spread across modern workplaces, creating opportunities for a wide range of workers as the green economy expands.
Workers with green skills are hired at much higher rates than their peers, a trend that has held since mid-2022. By 2030, the global transition is expected to affect 14.4 million jobs, resulting in a net gain of 9.6 million new roles.
Meanwhile, between 121 and 142 million people already work in the circular economy, where resources are reused, repaired, and recycled for as long as possible.
Despite this momentum, the green skills gap is widening. The demand for expertise in sustainability, low-carbon technologies, and energy efficiency is growing at twice the rate as the supply of qualified talent.
The clean energy industry illustrates this surge. In the U.S., this sector now employs almost 3.6 million people (more than half of all new energy jobs). Global clean energy employment is expected to more than double by 2030, surpassing 30 million positions.
Competitive pay makes green jobs highly attractive. A renewable energy specialist earns approximately $69,825 per year, while senior engineering and technology roles often reach six-figure salaries.
The fastest-growing occupations span a wide range, from sustainable farming (with 35 million new jobs expected by 2030) to AI specialists, big data experts, renewable energy engineers, ESG analysts, environmental engineers, and renewable energy technicians.
Comparing the top green jobs in 2025 with those from 2022 shows both continuity and evolution. While traditional roles, including sustainability managers, foresters, and wind turbine technicians, remain essential, new positions linked to energy transitions and emerging technologies (such as EV infrastructure technicians, AI/machine learning specialists, and circular economy designers) are rising quickly.
| Top Green Jobs 2022 | Top Green Jobs 2025 | What’s Driving Growth |
| Environmental, Health & Safety Specialist | Sustainable Farmers | Shift from safety roles to climate-adaptation and agri-focused growth |
| Environmental Health Safety Engineer | Renewable Energy Engineers | Tech-driven engineering roles are increasing |
| Sustainability Manager | ESG Analysts & Sustainability Specialists | Greater emphasis on corporate reporting and compliance |
| Forester | AI / Machine Learning Specialists | Rise of digital & tech roles in green transformation |
| Solar Consultant | Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Technicians | Expansion of EV and renewable energy infrastructure |
| Agronomist | Wind Turbine Technicians | Continued demand for traditional renewable energy roles |
| Wind Turbine Technician | Circular Economy & Waste Reduction Specialists | Circular economy and low-waste supply chain roles are emerging |
| Arborist | Environmental Engineers & Climate Scientists | A strong focus on restoration, climate risk planning, and green infrastructure |
Skills for Thriving in the Green Economy
By 2030, nearly 40% of core job skills across the labor market are expected to change, underscoring the urgent need for continuous learning, reskilling, and upskilling. As industries adapt to sustainability targets and regulatory pressures, green skills and sustainability expertise are increasingly valued, with workers possessing these capabilities enjoying a 54.6% higher hiring rate.
In an Allwork.Space podcast, Neil Yeoh, founder and CEO of OnePointFive, highlights that LinkedIn data shows adding just one green skill to a résumé increases hiring likelihood by around 80% in the U.S. and 50% globally.
Of the 41,000 skills tracked in LinkedIn’s Green Skills Report, 1,200 are currently classified as green skills, and the number is growing rapidly.
Thriving in the green economy requires a combination of technical, digital, and human-centered skills that enable workers to apply sustainability principles effectively. Key skills include:
- Technical skills (electrical, mechanical, engineering, data analysis): Essential for designing, maintaining, and improving green technologies, as well as tracking energy use and sustainability metrics.
- Digital literacy (AI, automation, smart systems): Helps optimize resource efficiency, monitor environmental performance, and manage energy systems.
- Problem-solving and adaptability: Required for tackling complex challenges like reducing emissions, improving supply-chain sustainability, and responding to climate regulations.
- Project management: Supports planning, operating, and monitoring sustainability initiatives, from energy-efficiency projects to corporate ESG programs.
- Communication skills: Ensures sustainability goals are understood, reported accurately, and supported internally and externally.
Yeoh predicts that green capabilities will soon become standard skills required across many occupations, driven by rising regulatory expectations.
He points to Starbucks as an example: sustainability is embedded across all operations, from baristas to finance staff. Microsoft, Siemens, and Schneider Electric follow similar approaches, providing training and education to empower employees and close the global green skills gap.
These companies recognize that environmental capability is now a core business requirement, not an optional add-on.
Broader Forces Shaping the Green Economy
The following regional, industry-wide, and organizational trends are some of the key forces driving the global green economy:
- Government climate policies and incentives
- Corporate net-zero commitments
- Large-scale investment in renewable energy
- Pressure for ESG transparency across value chains
- Ageing infrastructure requiring green retrofits
- Growing consumer demand for sustainable products and energy
Across Regions
The pace and scale of these transformations vary by region. In Southeast Asia, 72% of employers anticipate organizational restructuring driven by climate-focused initiatives by 2030, whereas only 19% of employers in Central Asia view climate action as relevant to their business.
Specific countries are already experiencing substantial change: in Norway, rapid growth in renewable energy, electrification, and sustainable transport is driving transformation; in Czechia, a manufacturing-heavy economy faces major restructuring challenges due to high emissions; and in Morocco, significant investment in solar, wind, and green-hydrogen projects is creating new opportunities in emerging clean-economy sectors.
Across Industries
The WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that 47% of employers worldwide see efforts to reduce carbon emissions as a major driver of organizational transformation, while 41% expect climate-adaptation investments to prompt significant change.
The impact is even more pronounced in carbon-intensive sectors. In the automotive and aerospace industries, 71% of employers predict sweeping transformations as decarbonization accelerates. In the mining and metals sectors, 69% of employers expect similar changes.
Workforce planning in these industries will rely heavily on widespread upskilling and reskilling, with many roles emerging in cleaner production, advanced materials, and new, modern energy systems.
Across Organizations
Transitioning to green is not only ethical but also advantageous for organizations. Sustainable practices can boost operational efficiency, enhance brand credibility, and strengthen overall competitiveness. However, progress remains uneven, as resistance to change persists in many public-sector organizations.
Resistance to green initiatives in some organizations often stems from financial concerns, organizational rigidity (sticking to traditional practices), and uncertainty about implementation. High upfront costs, unfamiliar processes, and unclear short-term returns can make leaders hesitant to act, while gaps in expertise and inconsistent regulations further slow adoption.
Overcoming these barriers requires clear strategies, education, and leadership commitment to embed sustainability into the organizational culture.
Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: Green Skills for All Roles
The green economy is poised for long-term growth, creating millions of jobs across all sectors and reshaping the workforce. Sustainability and environmental policy are becoming central to nearly every business operation, making green skills essential for success.
Consumer expectations are a major driver of this. Companies that actively tackle environmental challenges attract customers and, in turn, invest more heavily in sustainability initiatives and green hiring.
Employers are increasingly looking for job-ready candidates, meaning both early-career professionals and mid-career individuals must quickly develop relevant green skills through targeted training, internships, or volunteering.
According to recent analysis by the International Labour Organization (ILO), green jobs often offer higher wages and more desirable working conditions, although these benefits vary across countries and sectors.
Taken together, these trends make one point clear: green skills are no longer supplementary skills. They are now essential for accessing rewarding employment and thriving in a workforce increasingly defined by sustainability.
