Sustainable shift: 1 in 4 would take a pay cut for a sustainability role

Throughout our lives we are challenged not only by the world around us, but also by ourselves.

We feel the human need to adapt to our environment, to change, to improve things. That is where the power of our fight or flight instinct lies. We continually challenge ourselves and our skills to not only grow as individuals, but also to transform our environment, for better or worse.

On an ecological level, the worst has already happened. To solve this, millions in the UK, billions around the world, are trying to change their lives for the greater good of humanity, as the latest research from Indeed.

National research and global problem

New research from Indeed comprising more than 1,000 workers, job seekers and 500 employers across Britain, highlights the ongoing green skills challenge. Despite the clear demand for sustainability-related jobs among the working population, 42% believe there are still too many barriers to entry. More than a quarter have tried to transition into the sector, but have not been successful so far.

26% would also take a pay cut and 44% would consider retraining to enter the environmental sustainability sector.

Facing obstacles

Location is a key barrier when applying for sustainable jobs, with 42% saying where they live holds them back significantly. Those in the West Midlands are more likely to feel this, while those in the South East of England feel best placed to secure a sustainability-related role, with only a third saying their location is a barrier.

Salary is another factor that deters job seekers. One in five respondents believe there are not enough paid roles to apply for, while 52% believe ESG or sustainability roles are mainly volunteer or fundraising roles. Even where paid positions are available, 33% say inadequate pay prevents them from applying.

Despite pay challenges, just over a quarter of respondents say they would take a pay cut for a job that contributes to sustainability initiatives. Yet there are generational differences in willingness: 42% of 18-24 year olds are willing to take a pay cut, compared to just 23% of 35-44 year olds and 18% of 45-54 year olds.

Both employers and job seekers are wary of greenwashing. 1 in 5 job seekers are deterred from applying for sustainability jobs because an employer’s sustainability credentials do not match its claims. Similarly, 1 in 5 employers say the fear of being seen as greenwashing is a barrier to recruitment in this sector.

Employers versus job seekers

The data shows that there is a discrepancy between the perceptions of employers and job seekers regarding the prevalence of sustainability skills. 29% of employers say there is a shortage of candidates with the right skills, and while 25% of employees and job seekers say they don’t have the right qualifications (such as a science degree) for many of the roles, 44 % that Employers are not open enough to transferable skills.

More than a fifth of employers believe that better support systems for onboarding skilled workers from other sectors could effectively address recruitment challenges in sustainability-related roles. While employees believe sustainability education should start early, 63% agree that more should be done to encourage young people into environmental or sustainability jobs.

Despite this misalignment, more of the respondents currently trying to transition into a sustainability role are successful (32%) than unsuccessful (27%). However, younger applicants are having a harder time, with 35% of 18-24 and 25-34 year olds reporting that their transition attempt has been unsuccessful so far, compared to just 19% of 45+ year olds.

Promising future

There is a promising future for ESG-related jobs, it shows ONS dataemployment for these roles in 2022 rose 8.4% higher than originally estimated in 2021. Indeed’s research was equally optimistic, with almost half (48%) of working people thinking more roles will become available in the field of environmental sustainability due to new EU legislation prescribing business standards. sustainability.

Although there is an estimate 639,400 green jobs in Britain, reflecting the three-quarters (76%) of British companies surveyed who said they had a sustainability department or contact person in their organization; almost half of companies that don’t have a sustainability function say they don’t have one. I don’t plan to set one up; More needs to be done to truly have a positive impact on climate change.