3.24 million Brits want green role

In fact, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in 2022 the UK employed an estimated 639,400 people in green jobs. But what are green jobs? And how do individuals actually feel about the prospect of switching to a green career?  

Green energy experts 100Green surveyed 1,000 UK adults to see if a green job was on the cards for them in 2025 and beyond and uncover what’s been holding them back from making the move.

What is a green job?

Green jobs and careers are defined as those that contribute to protecting or restoring the environment, or jobs that help adapt to or mitigate climate change. But green skills and roles aren’t just needed in energy and carbon industries.

Environmentally positive business models are being rolled out everywhere, so you could find jobs in sustainability in plenty of sectors such as luxury goods, fashion, construction, finance and logistics.  

Logistics UK's Head of Skills Policy and Generation Logistics Bethany Windsor said: "Logistics is a vital part of the green transition, ensuring that supply chains become more sustainable and efficient. From electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles to AI-driven route optimisation, the sector is evolving rapidly to reduce emissions.

"At Generation Logistics, we’re working to highlight the wide range of green roles within the sector and the opportunities they offer for those looking to make a meaningful environmental impact. Through partnerships with organisations like IEMA and their Green Careers Hub, as well as sharing real-life stories from professionals in green roles, we’re inspiring the next generation to join the movement toward a more sustainable future.

“One of the biggest challenges in moving towards a greener workforce is ensuring people have the skills and awareness to enter these roles. Many don’t realise that logistics offers numerous pathways into sustainable careers, from supply chain decarbonisation to circular economy initiatives. Through Generation Logistics, we’re committed to closing the green skills gap and showcasing how the sector can help the UK meet its net-zero goals.”

When asked if they had any interest in moving into a “green” role in the future, nearly three-quarters of the survey’s respondents (71%) of working Brits said they would like to move into a green job. When applying this to UK employment figures, this means that as many as 24 million Brits could be looking at roles within green industries*. The survey also found that Brits are looking to make this change as soon as they can, with over half (64%) of those looking to move into a green role saying they would want to make the move in 2025.

This means that this year could see over 15 million people switching to green roles such as jobs focusing on sustainability or positions in green energy industries.  

100 Green's research found those under 45 are particularly keen to move into a green career:

- 85% of 18-24 year olds would like to work in a green role - and 65% want to do this in 2025. - 87% of 25-34 year olds would like to work in a green role - and 68% want to do this in 2025. - 82% of 35-44 year olds would like to work in a green role - and 56% want to do this in 2025.

A further one in five (21%) is looking further into the future and said they want to make this switch by 2026.  

Does our supply of green roles match the UK’s demand?

Analysing jobs listings on the site Adzuna, the survey looked at over 150 keywords such as “climate”, “renewable” and “sustainability”, to see if the current scope of green jobs matched up with the demand of Brits looking to move into the industry within the next year.

In late November 2024, there were a total of 757,938 jobs listed with green keywords - with an average salary of £45,980. That’s £8k more than the current median salary in the UK, suggesting a green career could be a slightly more lucrative venture for many Brits.

The top “green” keyword mentioned was “environment” with over 300,000 roles listed under the term. This was followed by “nature” (51,585), “sustainability” (49,407), “energy” (42,640) and “renewable” (16,579).

Were this the case year-round (with new jobs being advertised and filled at the same rate), we could see as many as nine million jobs with green keywords listed across 2025. Although, this is still six million below the number of Brits that will be on the hunt - meaning the competition could be stiff.

A previous study from Deloitte suggests that two main types of sustainability professionals will emerge: highly specialist roles to solve technical problems, and generalist sustainability roles that work across organisations to ensure alignment with company objectives.  

Across the job listings we studied, the survey saw a variety of abilities needed from professionals - with roles such as “Solar Energy Technicians” falling under a highly specialist role spec, versus more wider jobs such as a “Sustainability Engagement Officer” which would have a generalist focus.

However, even those without a “green” job title would still see opportunities under these job listings - for instance, even those within real estate could find a job that is adjacent to green industries.

Published On: 03/02/2025 12:00:00