Strategies to Bridge the Sustainability Skills Gap

Revolutionize the Workforce

The Corporate World’s Sustainability Challenge

The demand for sustainability skills is on the rise, with job ads featuring “sustainability” in the title seeing a tenfold increase over the last decade. However, the supply of skilled workers to meet the growing demand for green and sustainability jobs is lacking. LinkedIn’s analysis of its nearly 800 million users shows that while the number of “green jobs” grew globally at a rate of 8% per year over the last five years, the number of people listing green skills in their profiles only grew by 6% per year.

Educators training the next generation of workers in sustainability principles and techniques, see various effective ways for individuals at all career stages to acquire these skills and help bridge the gap. In the U.S., jobs in the renewable energy and environment sectors grew by 237% over the last five years. Globally, the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is predicted to result in a net increase in jobs for the energy sector. However, green jobs extend beyond just renewable energy and encompass sectors such as sustainable fashion, which has seen a 90% growth rate annually between 2016 and 2020, and sustainable finance, with accounting firm PwC committing to invest $12 billion and create 100,000 new jobs in ESG investing by 2026.

Some of the fastest-growing Sustainability jobs globally

• Sustainability manager
• Wind turbine technician
• Solar consultant
• Ecologist
• Environmental health and safety specialist
• Compliance manager
• Facilities manager
• Technical sales representative

Urban Sustainability

As the world’s population continues to rapidly urbanize, with 1 million people moving to cities every five days and 20,000 football fields’ worth of urban areas being built every day, there is an increasing need for urban sustainability officers who can help to make cities more resilient and reduce their carbon footprint. This demand has been reflected in the growth of organizations such as the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Additionally, the number of companies with chief sustainability officers in executive positions has tripled from 9% to 28% between 2016 and 2021. However, given sustainability’s significant scale and business opportunities, these skills are required much more widely within organizations, not just in a single executive role.

Where can you find training for Sustainability and green jobs?

These types of positions often require a combination of creative problem-solving, synthesizing, and technical skills. While some of these skills can be acquired on the job, increasing the number of qualified candidates will require more accessible and effective training opportunities that align with employer needs. Here are a few training sources to consider:

• University programs: More and more universities are incorporating sustainability into their curriculum. Today, there are thousands of programs globally that have a “sustainability” label. To ensure that your training is effective, look for programs that have a competency-based approach and link knowledge to action to solve problems and develop solutions.

• Short courses and Micro-credentials: For working individuals who may not have the time to commit to a full degree program, short courses and micro-credentials offered by universities, colleges, or professional organizations can be an effective way to develop sustainability skills. These might include a series of courses or workshops focused on specific skills, such as wind energy technology or incorporating ESG criteria into business operations. Short courses and micro-credentials are an alternative to traditional college degree programs, they are less time-consuming and less expensive. This can make it easier for lower-income individuals to train for sustainability jobs and increase diversity in the field. Another option is jobs-focused online certificate programs with a specialization in sustainability. See the list below for examples.

• Corporate training: Corporate training is another way to develop sustainability skills. Many companies are creating internal training programs to spread knowledge and practices related to sustainability across all functions of their business, not just for employees who have sustainability in their titles. Starbucks, HSBC, Salesforce, and Microsoft are some examples of companies that have created internal training programs to promote sustainability. A recent survey by Microsoft and BCG found that only 43% of sustainability professionals in businesses had sustainability-related degrees, and 68% of sustainability leaders were hired internally. This highlights the need for on-the-job sustainability training and upskilling to fill the growing number of sustainability-related roles in companies.

To close the gap in sustainability skills, more training will be required from colleges and universities, professional organizations, and employers. By providing more training and education in sustainability, we can increase the number of people working on sustainability solutions

Free online ESG courses

Below are more than 40 free online ESG courses to take this year, organized by topic:

Introduction to ESG Courses

1.  ESG Risks and Opportunities — University of Pennsylvania — Coursera
2.   Introduction to ESG — Corporate Finance Institute
3.  Introduction to Sustainability — the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Coursera

Sustainable Business Courses

4.  Business Models For Sustainability — Copenhagen Business School — Coursera
5.   Corporate Sustainability. Understanding and Seizing the Strategic Opportunity — Università Bocconi — Coursera
6.   Diploma in Sustainable Business— Saylor Academy — Alison
7.   How to Start a New Business and Integrate Sustainability — Alison
8.   Strategic Communication for Sustainability Leaders — University of Maryland — edX
9.   Strategy and Sustainability — IESE Business School — Coursera
10. Sustainability in Corporations and Businesses — Alison
11.   The Materiality of ESG Factors — University of Pennsylvania — Coursera

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

12.   Age of Sustainable Development — SDGAcademy — edX
13.   Data Science on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  — Udemy
14.   Driving Business Towards the Sustainable Development Goals — Erasmus University Rotterdam — Coursera
15.   Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs — Duke University — Coursera
16.   Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — Udemy
17.   The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development — The University of Queensland — edX
18.   The Sustainable Development Goals – A Global, Transdisciplinary Vision for the Future — University of Copenhagen — Coursera
19.   Transforming Our World: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — SDGAcademy — edX

Social Impacts

20.   Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace — ESSEC Business School — Coursera
21.   Human Rights, Human Wrongs: Challenging Poverty, Vulnerability and Social Exclusion — SDG Academy — edX
22.   Inclusive Leadership: The Power of Workplace Diversity — University of Colorado — Coursera
23.   Introduction to Corporate Sustainability, Social Innovation and Ethics — Imperial College Business School — edX
24.   Work and Employment for a Sustainable Future — SDGAcademy — edX

Environmental Management

25.   Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Approach — Wageningen — edX
26.   Circular Economy: An Introduction — TUDelft — edX
27.   Circular Economy - Sustainable Materials Management — Lund University — Coursera
28.   Climate Action: Solutions for a Changing Planet — SDGAcademy — edX
29.   Disaster Preparedness — University of Pittsburgh — Coursera 
30.   Environmental Education: Biodiversity Overview — Alison
31.   Environmental Education: Circular Economy— Alison
32.   Environmental Education: Energy Calculations — Alison
33.   Environmental Education: Transport — Alison
34.   Environmental Gamechanger – Lead the Way to Sustainable Development — Wageningen — edX
35.   Introduction to Environmental Sustainability Course Online — Alison
36.   Online Sustainable Green Buildings Architecture Course — Alison
37.   Scope 1: Greenhouse Gases Emissions Calculation Methodology — Udemy
38.   Sustainable Energy — MIT — edX
39.   Urban Transport and Sustainability — Alison

Governance

40.   Corporate Governance in Practice — Bina Nusantara University — Udemy
41.   CSR Disclosures and Ethics — Udemy
42.   Inclusive Growth: Governance — The International Monetary Fund — edX
43.   Operational Risk Management: Frameworks & Strategies — New York Institute of Finance — Coursera

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