In this economic climate, no one’s really sure about what’s going to happen next. Just about everyone is worried about whether the USA will enter a recession. Workers are concerned about whether that means they will lose their jobs, and jobseekers are concerned about whether it means hiring will slow.
But in this uneasy labor market environment, a surprising trend is on the upswing — one that has to do less with a metaphorical environment and more with the actual environment.
More than almost any other field, the green economy is hiring like crazy at the moment. The hiring rate for green jobs is outranking even traditionally high-in-demand careers as global superpowers rush to claim the top position in the renewable energy space.
There’s More to Green Jobs Than Just Solar Technicians
The “green economy,” and the green jobs it fuels, refers to businesses that have to do with the natural environment. Naturally, no pun intended, it includes fields like agriculture; renewable energy like solar and wind power; and other sustainable technologies that are centered around operating businesses in an environmentally-friendly way.
Even though the green economy is still developing, people tend to think of solar panel technicians or wind turbine operators as the only careers — aside from outright farming. But developments in the sustainability sector have significantly expanded the kind of green jobs available.
For instance, businesses looking to shift to renewable energy are now actively seeking managers, analysts, lawyers, and other “corporate” experts in sustainability to head up their efforts to comply with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
WEF Growth Summit Calls Attention to Intense Green Economy Hiring
Actually, the extreme hiring going on in sustainability was highlighted during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Growth Summit that took place on May 2-3.
The WEF pointed out solid LinkedIn data that showed “hiring for green roles consistently outpaced the overall hiring rate globally four years in a row.”
“For many jobseekers, green jobs are a safe bet in a cooling labor market,” the reputed organization said.
“Roles like sustainability analysts, sustainability specialists and sustainability managers featured on LinkedIn’s lists of the fastest growing roles – Jobs on the Rise – globally over the last four years.”
This development represents fantastic news for those looking to work in the sustainability field. But it could also be a nod in a new direction for someone who might be thinking about getting a new start in a brand new field.
Find the latest sustainable jobs in the UK via EcoCareers.