WEF and Linkedin forecast bright future for sustainability jobs

The World Economic Forum expects the climate transition to generate 8 million new jobs by 2030 – and according to Linkedin data, sustainability professions are already some of the fastest-growing in the UK and US.

Sustainability-related jobs are expected to grow tremendously over the next five years: according to the WEF Future of Jobs report 2025, two of the 15 fastest-growing careers will be that of environmental engineer (with more than 40% net growth expected by 2030) and renewable energy engineer (38%).

Other in-demand roles over the next few years will include sustainability specialists and renewable energy technicians. 

WEF’s predictions are corroborated by new Linkedin data showing that job applicants with green skills are being hired at a much higher rate than others – 50% higher since the end of 2023, in fact.

“A growing focus on environmental stewardship as a critical skill reflects an evolving alignment between business strategies and sustainability objectives. This rise, driven by climate adaptation efforts, carbon reduction initiatives, and energy generation, storage and distribution technologies, points to a profound shift whereby environmental skills are becoming increasingly integral across diverse sectors,” WEF writes in the report.

Sustainability specialists in high demand in the US and UK

Already, Linkedin’s latest Jobs on the Rise report shows that green jobs are among the most in-demand in both the US and UK.

The fastest growing careers in the two countries include roles like ‘sustainability specialist’, ‘environmental officer’ and ‘energy manager’ with renewable energy skills.

In the US, ‘sustainability specialist’ (also known as ‘environmental analyst’) was the ninth fastest-growing role over the past three years, with job descriptions seeking skills such as sustainability reporting, corporate social responsibility, and environmental policy. This is generally a mid-seniority role requiring a median three years of previous experience.

In the UK, ‘environmental officer’ ranked number 5, with skills including environmental compliance, environmental awareness, and environmental management systems. It is followed by ‘energy manager’ in eighth place, with job descriptions requiring energy efficiency and renewable energy skills and around five years of prior experience.