The “green job” economy is outpacing other sectors in London, prompting job market experts to call for stronger coordination between government, education and industry to help young people meet booming demand.
Bucking the trend of an otherwise sluggish job market, demand for green expertise has continued to rise, now accounting for almost 5 per cent of all job adverts in London, according to recent data from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
A “green job” is broadly defined as relating to sustainability and renewable energy, with the GLA listing roles from Aquatic Ecologist and Insulation Technician to Tree Surgeon.
The GLA report describes London as a “key source of green opportunities in the UK”, accounting for the highest absolute numbers nationwide, although it ranks fourth in proportional terms.
Job listing sites Indeed and LinkedIn have both reported a sharp rise in postings for green jobs and green-related skills.
Employment experts analysing the data are pushing for more information to be made available to young people, helping them capitalise on rare opportunities amid a slower job market.
Jack Kennedy, senior economist at Indeed, said the green job sector is managing to withstand the recent hiring slowdown, which is affecting the UK more than other countries.
Mr Kennedy explained how the job market saw a post-Covid boom, but has now “cooled off” to the point where job listings are currently down 20 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Yet labour demand remains robust in areas related to green energy, sustainable housing, and corporate environmental policies.
Earlier this year, a major study claimed that methods of “clean construction” would create thousands of jobs in London in the coming years, more so than under carbon-intensive models.
However, according to Indeed’s research cited by Mr Kennedy, there is a serious skills gap, with 27 per cent of employers reporting shortages of qualified candidates for sustainability-related jobs.
Mr Kennedy said: “Given the government’s priorities in terms of boosting these areas, it's going to be an ongoing challenge to find all the skills they need to support that. What is needed is alignment between government, employers and education providers to highlight exactly which skills are the ones that are in greatest need, and then offer the right support and information to enable people to take advantage of those opportunities.”
He also pointed to insufficient encouragement for young people to enter practical professions, adding: “I think in general in the UK we have perhaps not been as good as we could have been in getting young people to value and get excited about more vocational careers.”
LinkedIn has observed similar trends, noting that 13 per cent of job listings now require at least one green skill, demand for green talent grew 46 per cent between 2023 and 2024, and that green talent hiring rates are 72 per cent higher than the overall average.
Ferdy Cleare, senior sustainability consultant at Rider Levett Bucknall, recommended his career path to other young people seeking entry into a growing and highly rewarding industry.
The 24-year-old has spent three years since graduating university working with developers, investors, and local authorities to meet environmental standards in central London.
Speaking from his office at The Shard, he said: “I'd definitely recommend it to others thinking about what they want to get into.
“It’s a rewarding career, there's lots of opportunities, and diverse amount of work.”
Ferdy told the Standard he was originally drawn to the green sector by the prospect of making a positive impact on a daily basis.
He said: “I think what motivated me was that I wanted a career that had some purpose behind it, so I felt like whatever I was doing, even if it was the smaller tasks, there was some meaning in it, and I felt like I was contributing positively.”
Ferdy’s team is expanding, with new vacancies “constantly opening up” both at RLB and rival consultancies, reflecting booming demand in the sector.
However, he considers himself fortunate to have found a pathway straight from university into the industry, having studied an almost brand-new course at York University that provided him with the specialised skills companies are looking for.
Part of the problem, he argued, is that employers are not offering enough training for graduates—many with general geography degrees—to develop the skills required by these niche and emerging jobs.
He said: “I think the universities have only just started offering courses that are relevant for this kind of field.
“The department I was in was only a couple of years old; you couldn’t study some of those courses at other universities.
“People message me through LinkedIn asking, can you give me some advice on getting a job, especially early careers.
“It can be really hard to get into the industry because all the companies want ready-made sustainability professionals who they can slot in and respond to the demands that they've got.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has affirmed his commitment to closing the skills gap in the green sector and continuing to support the industry.
The GLA report said: “In addition to facilitating and monitoring the broader transition to net zero, the Mayor is also focused on directly supporting a number of key areas, particularly in relation to up- and re-skilling opportunities.”
