Despite claiming to be the most environmentally conscientious generation yet and even quitting jobs that aren’t eco-friendly, Gen Zers are so lacking in “green skills” that it’s actually putting climate progress “at risk,” new research from LinkedIn has warned.
The networking platform surveyed over 7,000 global workers from the U.K. to the U.S. and Brazil and found that just 1 in 20 Gen Zers have the green skills needed to tackle the climate crisis—compared to 1 in 8 of the workforce as a whole.
But it gets worse: At the current rate of progress, businesses risk failing their net zero targets because of inexperienced Gen Zers.
Among the Fortune 500, 47% of companies have set ambitious 2030 targets for emissions reductions. But by then, only 1 in 10 Gen Zs will have the green skills needed, LinkedIn warned.
“That’s a problem because this generation will make up a third of the workforce by that date,” the report highlighted. “The future of our planet depends on green talent, and that means taking advantage of every generation in the workforce.”
What even are green skills?
For those who are unsure, green skills is an umbrella term to cover the various abilities and expertise required to tackle the environmental challenges we face.
“These could be technical skills relevant to renewable industries (knowing how to preserve water systems or install heat pumps for example), or broader skills such as climate action planning, corporate sustainability, sustainable procurement, sustainability reporting and impact assessment,” LinkedIn’s head of public policy, Sue Duke, told Fortune.
For real-life examples of green skills, look no further than sustainability roles.
“A sustainability officer would oversee implementing and upholding a business’s sustainability strategy. A green buildings designer might develop new environmentally friendly materials for construction projects,” Duke explained.
“A product lifecycle analyst might evaluate and reduce the environmental impact of consumer products as it moves through the supply chain.”
It’s not Gen Z’s fault they’re ‘unskilled’
When it comes to Gen Z’s dire lack of green skills, it’s not for a lack of wanting.
Really, the youngest generation of workers are more likely to want an eco-friendly job than any other generation.
Nearly two-thirds of Gen Zers would consider turning down a job offer if they didn’t like an employer’s green policies, LinkedIn noted, compared to half of the overall workforce.
Meanwhile, COP28 inspired 58% of Gen Zers to bring forward their search for a new green job, compared to 48% of the overall workforce.
Separate research from Deloitte echoed that more than 70% of Gen Z and millennial workers consider prospective employers’ environmental policies when job hunting.
But the reality is that young workers are stuck: They can’t break into green jobs because they lack the skills required—yet they’ll never gain the skills or experience required until they bag a green job.
Climate progress is at risk unless green jobs become easier to access
According to LinkedIn’s research, Gen Z’s main barriers to green jobs are a lack of available job opportunities (63%), a lack of experience (52%), and a lack of green skills (40%).
It’s why the report recommended businesses that want to hit their sustainability targets to start training their workers—or for Gen Zers to take matters into their own hands and start upskilling themselves.
“Climate progress is at risk unless green jobs become easier to access, and this will require targeted action on skills by governments and businesses,” the report warned.
Recommendations for businesses include identifying the skills needed to achieve their climate goals and hiring based on these skills—rather than just on job title or academic qualifications—as well as implementing targeted training programs to develop young workers.
Meanwhile, for younger workers looking to break into green jobs, the report suggests strengthening their digital and STEM skills. LinkedIn data showed these will increase workers’ chances of successfully transitioning into green jobs.
“Young people are confident they can learn green skills if they’re given training,” Duke concluded.
“In the face of an ongoing green talent shortage that is putting climate progress at risk, it’s essential that businesses and policymakers do more to prioritize skills training and entry-level green jobs to empower young workers in the green transition.”
