As the growth of electric mobility segment rises in the budding ecosystem of India, a steady demand of skilled workforce or green jobs is rapidly increasing to fill the space.
India’s leading talent platforms, foundit has recently published data on the demand for green jobs in India.
India’s commitment to achieving a 500-gigawatt clean energy target by 2030 has led to an 81% annual increase in demand for green jobs in January 2023, with metropolitan cities leading the charge. Investments in the green sector have also proliferated compared to conventional fuel-based projects, enabling the creation of substantial jobs across the sector.
Moreover, a 64% month-on-month (MoM) growth was reflected in green jobs postings, with industries such as Industrial Products, Heavy machinery, and Waste Management hosting the maximum share in hiring demand. This marks an all-time high for green job postings on the foundit platform with both private and public sector companies integrating ESG practices as a central part of their business operations and transitioning to clean energy practices.
Commenting on green jobs trends, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit (previously Monster, APAC & ME), 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. India’s solar and wind energy sectors are adding thousands of workers to new projects and will continue to create steady employment opportunities. However, the enormous demand for green roles is quickly outpacing the availability of skilled talent required in these fields. Hence, consistent and intelligent upskilling and development is crucial to create an efficient green workforce in the coming months.”
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. Furthermore, rapid urbanization has necessitated the need for specialized 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%). These emerging jobs are the outcome of the growing number of corporations in India recruiting a skilled workforce trained in climate action to facilitate technological shifts and structured financing mechanisms to finally achieve net-zero emissions.
Demand for Professionals in Auto Industry and Waste Management surged to an all-time high
Environmental Service and Waste Management industries experienced an astounding 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. Moreover, increased emphasis on addressing the pressing issue of rapid urbanization in India has led to a significant increase in solid waste management initiatives.
The Automobile industry (307%) has also seen rise in demand for green professionals. With active measures being taken to cap transport emissions- such as designing sustainably, making better use of manufacturing resources, and sourcing ethically and responsibly- auto manufacturers are also investing heavily in Electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce their environmental impact. Moreover, the EV market is gearing up to downsize vehicle emissions, making it one of the fastest-growing markets in the country.
Additionally, the demand for green professionals is high in Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Plastics, and rubber (220%) industries followed by FMCG (42%) and Construction (30%).
Upskilling remains a key priority as the green job demand outlook holds strong
With the Union Budget 2023 reaffirming India’s stance to combat climate change, it is clear that the green economy is bound to grow even further in the coming years. Considering this growth, newer job roles have also emerged in the last few years as industries tackle sustainability issues with innovative solutions. This brings about the urgent need to create a workforce adept in newer skills, many of which are related to technology. Hence, today’s workforce needs to upskill to meet the rising demand as organizations scout for skilled talent in AI, automation, IoT, and other emerging tech.
With the demand-supply crunch that exists in the market today, an expansive and inclusive curriculum that focuses on climate tech, green entrepreneurship, and sustainability holds the potential to build a productive green economy in India with sectors such as solar energy, electric mobility, and e-waste expected to create the most jobs in the future.