Demand for Sustainability Managers on the rise ?

There is an 81% annual increase in demand for green jobs in January 2023 amid India's push for a 500-gigawatt clean energy by 2030, a study by foundit reveals.

This surge can be attributed to the growing emphasis on creating a green economy in urban India, which has increased the demand for skilled talent in various sectors, including Corporate Services, Software, Education, and Construction. Individuals skilled in corporate social responsibility and sustainability are particularly in high demand. 

The findings show metropolitan cities leading the charge and investments in the green sector have also increased as compared to conventional fuel-based projects through the creation of substantial jobs across the sector.  

Moreover, a 64% month-on-month (MoM) growth was reflected in green job postings.

According to the study, industries such as Industrial Products, Heavy machinery, and Waste Management are witnessing the maximum share in hiring demand. Te showed an all-time high for green job postings on the foundit platform, the data shows.

According to the study, private and public sector companies are integrating ESG practices as a central part of their business operations and transitioning to clean energy practices.

Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit, said, “The Green revolution in India has been picking up the pace for the past year, and it is now heartening to see that green growth has been identified as one of the seven key priorities of this year’s Budget. With an allocation of INR 35,000 crores of priority capital investment towards achieving net zero by 2070, the commitment towards addressing climate change and building a sustainable future is evident. Consistent and intelligent upskilling and development is crucial to create an efficient green workforce in the coming months.”

Among cities in the country, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru reflect the enormous potential for green growth.

According to foundit's data, there has been a substantial increase in green job postings across metro cities. Delhi/NCR registered a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 289%, followed by Mumbai at 216% and Bengaluru at 174%. 

This surge can be attributed to the growing emphasis on creating a green economy in urban India, which has increased the demand for skilled talent in various sectors, including Corporate Services, Software, Education, and Construction. Individuals skilled in corporate social responsibility and sustainability are particularly in high demand. 

The scale of rapid urbanisation has necessitated the need for specialised roles in addressing air quality, waste management, land degradation, and clean transport segments, among others. 

 Demand for sustainability managers on the rise 

Among job roles, Sustainability Managers (26%) are highest in demand as companies across Construction and Manufacturing consciously try to account for the environmental impact of their activities. Other roles in demand include Environmental Consultants (11%), ESG analysts (17%), Safety Specialists (15%), and Design Engineers (9%). 

Waste management surge

Environmental Service and Waste Management industries have seen a whopping 1765% annual growth in hiring activity. This surge can be attributed to the growing consciousness among Indian companies to safeguard natural resources and ensure proper waste disposal. 

 The Automobile industry (307%) has also seen a rise in demand for green professionals. Auto manufacturers are also investing heavily in Electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce their environmental impact. 

 Additionally, the demand for green professionals is high in Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Plastics, and rubber (220%) industries followed by FMCG (42%) and Construction (30%).