Waves of Greening

Seems to us that a good way of describing the green skills landscape is to think of it as a series of waves.

Not so long ago in September, The Green Edge had the opportunity to participate as a panellist alongside the Society for the Environment in a webinar titled The Power of Green Skills: Sustainability and the Education Landscape. The event, chaired and facilitated by the Education Landscape and hosted for the  Trades Association Forum, explored how employers can navigate the evolving landscape of education and training for green skills. One key takeaway became clear to us during the discussions: the need for a clearer, more comprehensive explanation of how the net zero transition is affecting green skills and jobs in Britain’s workforce and workplaces.

Ruminating on this a little further, it seems to us that one way of considering it is as a series of waves – let’s call them ‘waves of greening’ – reshaping jobs, sectors, and skills across the UK. Counting on our fingers, we can see perhaps ten of them; some are big breakers, others more like ripples. Here’s our list…

1. Energy Transition

This wave encompasses renewable energy generation, storage, distribution, and consumption. As we shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, jobs in the renewable sector - such as wind turbine technicians and solar panel installers - are in high demand.

2. Environmental Protection and Biodiversity

Efforts to preserve ecosystems and restore natural resources are driving job growth in areas like habitat restoration, reforestation, and the development of green infrastructure. The increasing focus on biodiversity is also influencing industries like construction and urban planning.

3. Sustainable Resource Management

The circular economy is gaining traction as businesses move towards sustainable material use, including water conservation and waste reduction. This wave supports jobs in resource recovery, recycling, and water management, essential for achieving sustainability goals.

4. Carbon Reduction and Climate Mitigation

Carbon accounting, climate risk management, and the implementation of low-carbon technologies are becoming integral to business operations. Professionals with expertise in carbon mitigation strategies and climate adaptation will be key players in the coming decades

5. Sustainable Transportation and Mobility

The transition to low-emission transportation systems is transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, and logistics. Electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and efficient public transport systems are reshaping job roles in automotive engineering, urban planning, and supply chain management.

6. Green Finance and Investment

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are now central to financial decision-making. Green finance professionals are essential for driving investments in sustainability projects, making this a growing field within banking and investment.

7. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

From farm to fork, sustainability is becoming the key to food production and consumption. Practices such as regenerative agriculture, organic farming, and sustainable supply chains are creating demand for new skill sets in agriculture and food processing.

8. Regulation, Policy, and Governance

Governments worldwide are introducing regulations to reduce environmental impact. As regulations evolve, businesses must comply with new sustainability mandates, leading to increased demand for expertise in environmental law, policy development, and corporate governance.

9. Consumer Behaviour and Corporate Responsibility

Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable products, which drives companies to rethink their business models. Roles in marketing, product development, and corporate sustainability are expanding to meet this shift in consumer preferences.

10. Education and Training

As the green economy grows, so does the need for training programmes that reskill and upskill the workforce. Education providers are developing new curricula focused on green technologies, sustainable practices, and environmental awareness. The workforce needs to be agile, with employers investing in continuous learning to keep pace with the evolving landscape.

Interwoven Waves and Sectoral Impact

Each of these waves brings new work demands and re-purposes existing tasks. They interweave with one another, creating a dynamic, multi-faceted transformation across sectors. For instance, the energy transition affects not only the energy sector but also impacts construction, manufacturing, and transport, which rely heavily on new energy systems. Similarly, sustainable resource management intersects with environmental protection, driving changes in both waste management and biodiversity efforts.

By mapping these waves across key sectors of the economy – such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transport and logistics, finance and banking, energy and utilities, IT and technology, and the public sector – we can see clear patterns emerge. Some sectors, like transport and logistics or finance and banking, are deeply affected by two or three waves. Others, such as energy and manufacturing, are feeling the impact of four or more waves, creating a more profound and complex set of challenges.

Connecting Waves to Occupations and Skills

By adopting this ‘waves of greening’ approach, we can also trace how these transformations affect occupations within sectors. For each wave, specific jobs emerge or evolve, requiring new technical skills and knowledge. For example, the sustainable agriculture wave is creating new demand for professionals skilled in regenerative farming techniques, while the energy transition requires specialised knowledge in areas like renewable energy systems and grid management.

Crucially, this also highlights where workers can best develop the required skills – whether in formal education settings like universities and vocational institutions, or through on-the-job training. This flexibility is essential as industries and occupations rapidly change to meet new environmental standards.

Sector-Specific Green Impact

When we take the 10 greening waves and apply them to sectors, we see varying degrees of impact. As we’ve already observed, energy and utilities and manufacturing are highly impacted by several waves, particularly energy transition, sustainable resource management, and carbon reduction. In contrast, sectors like finance and banking or transport and logistics might be more influenced by two or three waves, such as green finance and sustainable transportation.

This mapping approach not only helps us understand the current landscape but also enables industries to anticipate future needs. It’s clear that for most sectors, adopting green practices is no longer optional - it’s becoming fundamental to their long-term viability.

A Workforce in Transition

This shift is reflected in the findings of the Climate Change Committee, which estimates that around 20% of all jobs will be directly impacted by the transition to net-zero, with another 20% indirectly affected. When we look at highly green jobs like renewable energy engineers, wind turbine technicians, or energy auditors. we see that over 85% of their tasks are aligned with green principles. On the other hand, more traditional roles like retail salespersons, registered nurses, and janitors and cleaners are also undergoing changes, with 5-30% of their duties now related to sustainability.

Figures like these can be derived by analysing data from sources such as O*NET and ESCO, which provide a comprehensive view of how work and skills are evolving in response to green trends. These resources are crucial for understanding the nature of greening work and for guiding workforce planning at both the organisational and national levels.

The Role of Trade Associations and Professional Bodies

The challenge now is for trade associations and professional bodies to help their members identify which greening waves are most relevant to their sectors. A good example of this is the European electrical contractors’ association EuropeOn, which has started down this path with its Guide for a Green Workforce Assessment. This tool helps contractors assess where and how the greening of jobs is happening within their industry, offering a practical route forward.

Similarly, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has incorporated green skills into many of its apprenticeship standards, although the level of intensity may vary. This shift in educational standards reflects the growing recognition that green skills are integral to future workforce development.

By viewing the green transition as a series of interconnected waves, we can better understand the profound changes reshaping our economy. From energy to agriculture, finance to education, every sector is feeling the ripple effects of the green shift. As we look ahead, the task is not just to ride these waves but to actively prepare for them—by investing in education, training, and upskilling for the future.

With the right support from trade bodies, educators, and policymakers, the UK workforce can rise to the challenge of a green economy. The future of work will be defined by how well we navigate these waves and adapt to the evolving demands of a net-zero world.