The Hottest Sustainability Jobs Right Now and Why Demand Is Growing
Sustainability is no longer a fringe initiative; it has become central to how businesses operate, innovate, and compete. With climate regulations tightening, investor pressure increasing, and public scrutiny rising, specialised roles in sustainability are in higher demand than ever. This surge is creating exciting opportunities for professionals and strategic challenges for employers.
Below, we explore the hottest sustainability jobs today, why demand is rising, and how to prepare for the rapidly evolving green economy.
Why Demand for Sustainability Roles Is Accelerating
Several structural forces are driving the surge in sustainability hiring:
Regulatory mandates - The EU’s
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) now compels many companies to disclose detailed environmental, social, and governance data.
Growth in green economy jobs - In the UK alone, employment in green jobs is rising steeply: ONS estimates show 639,400 full‑time equivalent “green jobs” in 2022, up 8.4 % over 2021.
(ons.gov.uk)
Rising share of job ads for green skills - According to PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer, the proportion of UK job adverts with “green” skills jumped from 2.3 % in 2023 to 3.3 % in 2024.
(pwc.co.uk)
Talent mobility & turnover - Around 20 % of sustainability professionals changed roles over the past year.
(sustainabilitymag.com)
This structural growth shows that sustainability isn’t a short-term trend.
Organisations that don’t build talent in this space risk capability gaps and missed opportunities.
The Sustainability Roles in Highest Demand
Certain roles are particularly sought-after across the green economy:
ESG Analyst / ESG Manager - With regulatory frameworks expanding, in-house ESG specialists are essential for collecting, validating, and reporting sustainability data.
Sustainability Reporting Specialist / Compliance Lead - These professionals ensure that companies comply with frameworks like CSRD and ESRS.
Carbon / Net-Zero Consultant - Companies need experts to measure emissions, design reduction pathways, oversee offsets, and embed decarbonisation strategies.
Sustainability Data Scientist / Analyst - Turning raw environmental, operational, and supply chain data into actionable insight is increasingly critical. See our article How Data is Powering Greener Decision-Making for more on data-driven sustainability roles.
Renewable Energy / Clean Tech Engineer - Wind, solar, hydrogen, and storage projects all require specialised engineering expertise.
Circular Economy / Circular Design Specialist - Professionals focused on waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable product design are helping companies transition to closed-loop systems.
Sustainability Strategy & Leadership Roles (CSO, Head of Sustainability) -Senior leaders integrate sustainability into operations, capital allocation, and growth strategies. Read
Hiring for Impact: Climate Tech’s Talent Evolution for insights on evolving leadership expectations.
Why This Demand Isn’t Slowing
Several forces indicate continued growth in sustainability hiring:
Mandatory reporting regimes will force nearly 50,000 companies to report sustainability metrics.
Investor and stakeholder expectations - ESG data now drives strategic decisions.
(pwc.com)
Long-term climate pressures - Net-zero targets, renewable rollouts, and circular economy transitions require skilled talent.
Skill shortages & competition - Companies are competing for a limited talent pool, driving salary growth and opportunities. For a deep dive on bridging talent gaps, see
Solving the Net-Zero Hiring Crisis.
How to Prepare (Candidates & Employers)
For Job Seekers
Develop cross-functional skills (operations, finance, data, policy).
Build
data literacy - See
Sustainable Data Practices & What New Data Professionals Should Know.
Understand ESG reporting frameworks (CSRD, GRI, SASB, ESRS).
Showcase impact in previous roles - quantify emission reductions or cost savings.
Strengthen communication & stakeholder influence skills.
For Hiring Organisations
Invest in training and rotational programs to upskill internal talent.
Promote employer branding around purpose to attract mission-driven candidates.
Offer hybrid/remote flexibility to tap into broader talent pools.
Build talent pipelines via universities, internships, and partnerships.
Publish salary benchmarks and market insights to attract top talent.
The sustainability talent market is evolving fast, having the right people in the right roles is now a strategic imperative.
Candidates: pivot into green careers, develop domain fluency, and demonstrate measurable impact.
Employers: build intentional hiring strategies, retain top talent, and position your business competitively.
Ready to take your sustainability hiring or career to the next level? Contact Jake Carrington at Green Talent Solutions today for guidance on designing sustainability roles, or building a pipeline of ESG leaders.
