Demand for green jobs in the country up 81% yoy: foundit

In January 2023, demand for green jobs increased by 81 percent year-on-year, thanks to factors such as the country’s goal to reach a 500 GW clean energy target by 2030 and investments in the green sector, data released by foundit (formerly Monster APAC and ME).

The data shows that metropolitan areas saw a significant increase in green job postings, with Delhi-NCR posting 289 percent yoy, Mumbai 216 percent yoy and Bengaluru 174 percent yoy.

“This increase is attributed to the growing emphasis on creating a green economy in urban India, which has increased demand for skilled talent across multiple sectors including business services, software, education and construction,” the company said.

Effects of rapid urbanization

Personalities who are familiar with corporate social responsibility and sustainability are particularly in demand. Additionally, rapid urbanization has necessitated the need for specialized roles in areas such as air quality, waste management, land degradation and clean transportation.

Green job openings from both private and public sector companies in sectors such as industrial products, heavy equipment and waste management also showed monthly growth of 64 percent.

Hiring activity in the Circular Economy and Waste Management industries saw year-on-year growth of 1,765 percent. Similarly, demand for green professionals in the automotive industry grew 307 percent year-over-year. Sectors such as chemicals, petrochemicals, plastics and rubber (220 percent), FMCG (42 percent) and construction (30 percent) also saw high demand.

Building a sustainable future

Sekhar Garisa, CEO, said: “With an allocation of ₹35,000 crore of priority capital investments to achieve net zero by 2070, the commitment to tackling climate change and building a sustainable future is evident. India’s solar and wind energy sectors are hiring thousands of workers for new projects and will continue to create steady job opportunities.”

Garisa added: “However, the huge demand for green jobs is quickly outstripping the availability of skilled talent needed in these fields. Therefore, consistent and smart training and development are crucial to create an efficient green workforce in the coming months.”