The green skills crisis is why businesses will miss the net zero boom

For years, we’ve heard it: the green transition is underway. Companies are setting net-zero targets. Governments are unveiling climate roadmaps. Investors are directing trillions toward sustainability-linked finance.

But here’s the reality check — we’re not just transitioning to a net-zero economy. We’re transitioning to a net-zero workforce. And right now, the people we need to make it happen simply aren’t there.

Green jobs are growing at 8% per year, but green skills are only growing at 6%. That gap — though it may seem modest — translates into a $1 trillion global economic risk, according to the World Economic Forum.

This is real, and it’s already slowing us down.

• Businesses want to decarbonise, but can’t find the talent

• Projects are ready to launch, but lack trained professionals to deliver

• Workers are missing out on the most resilient, high-paying jobs of the future

Just look at offshore wind. Investment is booming, yet 60% of employers say they can’t find enough skilled workers to meet demand. And the training pipeline? It takes 5 to 10 years to produce an experienced wind energy technician.

We’ve seen this before. At the dawn of industrialisation, workers who adapted thrived. Those who didn’t? Left behind. Today’s transition is no different; just faster, broader, and more urgent.

The $1 trillion skills gap

The race to net zero is driven by people, not just infrastructure, finance, or regulation. And right now, we’re behind.

The numbers tell the story

• Green job growth: 8% per year

• Green skill growth: 6% per year

• Talent shortfall in wind energy: 60% of companies report severe shortages

• Training lag: 5-10 years to skill up key green roles

• Economic risk: $1 trillion (World Economic Forum)

Without urgent action, the workforce bottleneck will delay projects, drive up costs, and derail net-zero targets.

Which countries are closing the gap?

Not fast enough — anywhere. But some are ahead of others.

The UK, in particular, is at a critical moment.

UK snapshot: Strong growth, rising risk

The UK’s green economy is expanding but the workforce isn’t keeping pace.

• £83.1 billion value of the UK’s green economy (ONS, 2023)

• 951,000 jobs, or 2.9% of total UK employment

• Net-zero roles pay 15% more than the national average (PwC, 2023)

Despite this momentum, the UK risks being outpaced by countries investing more aggressively in green skills. The opportunity is massive, but so is the risk of inaction.

What this means for business and workers

The consequences of the skills gap aren’t abstract — they’re already playing out:

• Jobs will migrate to countries with a ready workforce

• Costs will rise as companies compete for a shallow talent pool

• Net-zero targets will slip due to lack of implementation capacity

And this isn’t just about sustainability departments. More than 60% of green jobs are in finance, tech, supply chain, and operations. We need to embed green skills across the board.

The question isn’t, where will the green jobs be?
It’s, who will be ready to take them?

Three actions to close the gap

 1. Integrate green skills into every role

Sustainability isn’t a silo. Every team — from procurement to product — needs to understand climate risk and opportunity.

2. Invest in fast, industry-led training

Universities can’t move quickly enough. We need micro-credentials, apprenticeships, and short, agile programs designed for real-world impact.

3. Rethink hiring

Stop hunting for unicorns. Green talent isn’t limited to climate scientists — it’s in your marketing team, your data analysts, your engineers.

The future of work is green

More than a niche trend, this is the next industrial revolution.

• Oil & gas firms are offering 30% premiums to attract renewable energy talent (Bloomberg, 2024)

• Sustainable finance job postings are up 38% (London Stock Exchange, 2024)

• Net-zero jobs offer 15% higher salaries (PwC, 2024)

And the UK’s economic transition is already in motion:

But we’re not moving fast enough

Despite progress, the workforce gap could delay everything. If governments, companies, and educators don’t act now, we won’t just miss climate targets; we’ll miss out on one of the greatest economic opportunities of our time.

Green literacy is becoming what digital literacy was 30 years ago: a must-have for every job.

The only question is: Are we ready?

illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.