91% of businesses do not have enough green talent to achieve sustainability goals, with the supply shortage forecast to last until 2030, according to Manpower Vietnam.
Demand for human resources is increasing dramatically as industries gradually shift to sustainable business models, according to the report Sustainability and New Green Roles by Manpower Vietnam.
They say demand for green jobs is twice as high as supply. In a survey of more than 40.000 businesses from 42 countries last July, 7% said they did not have enough people with the green skills to meet their sustainability goals.
Workers install solar panels at a project in Ninh Thuan, February 2. Photo: Quynh Tran
The concept of green jobs is no longer limited to wind turbine or solar panel installations. Manpower divides these jobs into three groups. Group one is traditional green, which includes professionals and ordinary workers who directly contribute to environmental protection.
The "Green +" group requires a wide range of skills, scientific knowledge and practical experience, contributing directly or indirectly to the environment and ecosystem.
The "Green" group plays a core role in designing sustainable solutions and developing green business models, often consisting of senior leaders and managers in the fields of administration, finance, and marketing.
The demand for green jobs is increasing as new sustainability regulations such as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the European Sustainable Development Reporting Directive (CSRD) come into effect. In addition to the need to recruit green talent, businesses also need to upgrade the skills of their existing workforce to ensure compliance.
For example, in addition to financial and administrative management skills, today's accountants need to analyze strategy, control risks, and assess product life-cycle costs. They also need to plan and report according to ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards, and set science-based targets to avoid greenwashing.
In fact, the demand for green workers in 2024 has doubled compared to the previous year. In addition, according to Manpower's calculations, more than half of the global workforce needs additional training to perform their current jobs. By job position, the skills of nearly 800 jobs will be directly affected by the green transition.
The skills shortage will add to the burden of this process. The current gap between supply and demand for green workers is forecast to continue, with a 19% shortage of workers by 2030.
Experts from Manpower recommend that businesses prioritize “repurposing” rather than replacing human resources. Specifically, they need to invest in research and development to help employees meet job demands. Retraining will be especially necessary in highly operational industries, such as manufacturing, transportation and retail.
Additionally, developing existing talent saves time and effort in recruiting new talent, as soft skills such as effective communication and adaptability will become increasingly important as many technical skills can be replaced by automation.
Human resource management is a long-term game. Human resource experts say now is the right time to build key green positions for the sustainable future of businesses, society and the economy.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/doanh-nghiep-toan-cau-khat-nhan-luc-xanh-4916365.html