Businesses looking for green skills in prospective employees

Businesses looking to get greener are headhunting candidates with skills in waste management, corporate sustainability strategy and carbon management, according to a new report.

The research, carried out by Skillnet Ireland and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), examines what companies are prioritising “to enable Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy”.

Waste management (78 per cent) tops the range of green skills needed for all enterprise groups, followed by corporate sustainability strategy skills (75 per cent) and carbon-management skills (67 per cent).

The new research shows that companies have identified the development of talent and skills as the top challenge associated with the implementation of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.

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Other key challenges include improving the way resources are used in supply chains to reduce emissions and improving the energy efficiency of processes, buildings and transport.

The top skill sets needed in the medium term include climate change and sustainability strategy skills (84 per cent); marketing skills (70 per cent); and financial skills relating to investment and access to finance (67 per cent).

Uncertainty

Skillnet Ireland director of communications and policy Tracey Donnery said transitioning to a low-carbon economy “comes with a level of uncertainty” for businesses.

“All businesses will undergo a significant shift and having access to responsive business supports will be key,” she said. “Skillnet Ireland is engaging with industry to develop talent frameworks to build sustainable and digitally enabled businesses that enable innovation.

“We are committed to helping Irish businesses understand their talent needs and stay ahead of the curve as the transition to a new, carbon-neutral economy gathers pace.”

ESRI lead author Prof Iulia Siedschlag said: “Our research identified a number of business challenges and skills gaps within the private enterprise sector to enable innovation and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

“Tailored training programmes to each sector and enterprise group and at different stages in the transition to a low-carbon economy would help businesses to better act and manage the transition to a low-carbon economy.

“Enhancing collaboration and co-ordination of different initiatives across government departments and agencies is important to ensure accessibility and maximise benefits.”