Job openings in the environmental sector reach an 8-year peak
The demand for green talent has reached an eight-year high, with an average of more than 21,000 people per month seeking employment in green-collar jobs from January to April, according to a report published by the Ministry of Environment. The report, which examined key variables such as job titles, job content, and required skills or certificates, did not specify the number of green-collar jobs available in the other five major industries. However, it did reveal that approximately 17,000 green-collar jobs, or 77%, were available across the six major industries.
The top industries with the highest demand for green talent, particularly for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) specialists and those with Artificial Intelligence (AI) expertise, are primarily in sectors focused on sustainability, clean energy, and technology-driven environmental solutions.
The technology sector, including electronics, IT, software, and semiconductors, had the most green talent demand among the six major industries. Companies are investing heavily in AI infrastructure and digital transformation to support sustainable practices and meet net-zero goals. Sustainability managers and environmental data scientists who leverage AI and data analytics to drive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies are in high demand. Top employers include tech firms focused on green innovation and government entities pushing sustainability forward.
Renewable Energy and Clean Tech are also experiencing a surge in demand for green talent. Roles such as solar photovoltaic installers, wind turbine technicians, and environmental data scientists are critical. The clean energy sector is rapidly expanding, especially in Europe, China, and India, with a notable shortage of green-skilled workers. Training programs and green skills frameworks are being developed to close the talent gap in renewable energy.
Sustainability managers and environmental health and safety specialists are in demand in the manufacturing and finance sectors to lead ESG initiatives, compliance, and sustainable operations. Finance is increasingly focused on green investments, requiring deep EHS expertise combined with AI-driven data analysis.
The oil and gas industry, although traditionally a fossil fuel industry, is adopting cleaner technologies like green drilling, emission reduction, and solar-powered onsite solutions. There’s a growing need for EHS professionals and AI skills to monitor emissions, automate reporting, and manage environmental compliance. Workforce transformation programs emphasize local talent development and integrating digital and AI tools into operations to meet sustainability targets.
Infrastructure and Smart City Projects, such as those in the GCC region, require engineers and EHS professionals skilled in clean energy, AI, cloud, and data-driven infrastructure management. The demand for talent with green and AI skills is critical to build sustainable, smart city ecosystems.
Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming stated that the ministry would step up efforts to train green talent due to insufficient workforce to meet labor demand. He also noted that the integration of AI into green-collar jobs has become imperative. Approximately 10,000 green-collar jobs, or 48 percent, are related to environmental health and safety (EHS), sales, R&D engineering, maintenance and technical services, project and product management, and operators and technicians.
In conclusion, the tech sector, renewable energy, manufacturing, finance, oil & gas, and infrastructure/smart city projects are the leading industries demanding green talent, especially for EHS specialists and AI experts capable of driving sustainability through innovation and compliance. The report analyzed data from over 468,000 hiring companies and nearly 9 million jobseekers.
[1] Tech Firms Embrace Green Innovation to Meet Net-Zero Goals [2] Training Programs Address Green Skills Shortage in Renewable Energy [3] Oil & Gas Industry Transforms Workforce for Sustainability [4] Smart City Projects Drive Demand for Green and AI Talent in GCC Region
- The technology sector, with its focus on electronics, IT, software, and semiconductors, not only leads in the demand for green talent but also invests heavily in AI infrastructure and digital transformation to support sustainable practices, necessitating skills in fields such as sustainability management and environmental data science.
- The finance industry, amidst its growing focus on green investments, requires professionals with deep environmental health and safety (EHS) expertise combined with AI-driven data analysis, as it seeks to meet its net-zero goals while ensuring compliance and driving ESG strategies.
