🌎 Green Skills #4
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts as technology, decarbonization, and global dynamics reshape energy, environment, infrastructure, and mobility sectors. Targeted workforce development is key to enhancing skills, driving growth, and supporting sustainable progress.
As industries transition to sustainability, corporate supply chains play a pivotal role in this shift. The rising demand for Sustainable Procurement skills, marked by a 15% increase in LinkedIn profiles in 2024, highlights how organizations are aligning with environmental targets. In the UK, the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) have driven a notable rise in responsible sourcing skills, emphasizing the push for greater transparency across supply chains. Meanwhile, the chart below shows that the global finance industry has a green talent concentration of 6.8%, far below the sector median of 12.3%, emphasizing the need for stronger green skills development in finance.
Initiatives like Canada’s $75M investment in green workforce training and Pakistan’s Green Pakistan Initiative are fueling global momentum toward green skills development, preparing workers to meet the growing demand for sustainable practices. Looking ahead, the shift to a greener economy demands proactive action and the acquisition of critical green skills to support this transformation.
Thanks for reading!
Not a subscriber yet?
Green Labor Market Trends
🌱 Sustainable Procurement on the Rise. Sustainable Procurement is the fastest-growing green skill globally, with a 15% increase in LinkedIn profiles adding it in 2024 compared to 2023. In the UK, where sustainability regulations like the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) are driving greater transparency, responsible sourcing skills have grown fivefold over the past year.
🌾 Cargill to Lay Off 5% of Workforce in Strategic Restructuring. Agriculture giant Cargill is cutting 5% of its global workforce—around 8,000 employees—as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen its position. The layoffs come amid rising agricultural costs, supply chain disruptions, and potential policy shifts under President-elect Donald Trump. While the full impact on Cargill’s US operations remains unclear, experts see this as a “rightsizing” move to adapt to changing market conditions.
🚗 Continental, Bosch, ZF Slash Jobs Amid EV Slowdown. Germany’s Continental, Bosch, and ZF are cutting thousands of jobs as rising costs and a slowing EV market pressure Tier 1 suppliers. The layoffs, part of broader restructuring efforts, target ICE component manufacturing and other segments facing declining demand. Suppliers cite cost pressures, supply chain disruptions, and competition from Chinese manufacturers as key challenges.
Concentration of Green Talent in the Finance Industry
💰 The global finance industry has a green talent concentration of 6.8%, compared to the median of 12.3% across all sectors.
💹 Countries with the highest green talent concentration in finance: Germany (11.3%), Austria (10.9%), Colombia (10%), Luxembourg (9.6%), Portugal (9%), United States (8%), United Kingdom (7.6%).
🏦 Singapore’s finance industry leads in green skills intensity with a score of 5 (five times the global industry average).
📉 The US finance industry has a low green skills intensity score of 1.3, one of the lowest in any US industry.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
💼 Canada Invests $75M in Job Training for 10,000 Workers. The Canadian government announced over $75M in funding for eight projects to train more than 10,000 workers in electric vehicle maintenance, green buildings, low-carbon energy, and carbon management, supporting workforce skills and sustainable economic growth. This initiative aims to enhance workforce skills, drive innovation, and ensure Canadian workers remain competitive in the evolving job market, supporting sustainable practices and economic growth.
🌾 Penn State Secures $1.3M to Strengthen PA’s Agricultural Workforce. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry invests $1.3M in Penn State’s Agricultural Workforce Development Project to support small- and mid-sized farms. The initiative will provide HR training, legal guidance, and workforce management strategies to improve hiring and retention. Over 100 farms will receive direct consulting, while broader outreach aims to engage 1,500 agribusinesses. The project aligns with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s economic strategy and is funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
📚 Future-proofing Businesses with Further Education and Training. Irish businesses are turning to Further Education and Training (FET) to address skills gaps amid climate and digital shifts. SOLAS, Ireland’s FET agency, is driving upskilling initiatives, with over 25,000 employees benefiting from the Skills to Advance program in 2024. Micro-qualifications and specialist training centers are expanding industry-led learning, while eCollege has seen 37,000 learners engage in flexible online courses. These initiatives help SMEs stay competitive with subsidized, tailored training.
Policy Initiatives
🌱 Green Pakistan Initiative Aims to Cultivate Economic Prosperity in Rural Areas. The Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) is set to transform rural areas by creating thousands of jobs, boosting infrastructure, and improving economic conditions. It aims to generate 1 million new agricultural jobs, enhance training for over 500,000 farmers, and expand modern farming techniques in rural areas. With a focus on financial inclusion, GPI plans to improve access to credit for 1.5 million farmers, supporting them to grow more sustainably. However, challenges like ensuring equitable benefits for small farmers and addressing environmental concerns remain. If successful, GPI could uplift millions across rural Pakistan.
Like getting this newsletter? Request a demo for unlimited access to over one million charts
Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
Have some feedback or suggestions? Let us know at hello@holoniq.com
