Teodora Stoyanova explores the obstacles preventing young applicants from breaking into the environmental profession – for which they are ideally suited
Young people play a critical role in the climate transition, but they are underrepresented in this area of the workforce. While interest is rising, there are challenges that prevent more early career professionals or graduates from either transitioning into or launching their green careers. Yet these groups of people will be significantly affected by the consequences of climate change, and their contribution is crucial, despite their sometimes-limited experience.
The path to a green career
The first hurdle is the ambiguity of career paths. As many roles in the sustainability space are only just emerging and most others are rapidly evolving, there is a lack of clarity when
it comes to career trajectories. For jobseekers, this can lead to confusion and an unfocused search, which is especially true for those newer to the job market. In turn, careers guidance is sometimes conflicting – although this can mean a variety of advice with something for everyone, it can also be confusing. Much of the advice is not tailored towards those with little experience, leaving a disoriented group of aspiring people behind.
Education has been proven to increase knowledge of the environment and a willingness to act in favour of it. However, young people are not receiving sufficient environmental education, either in schools or higher education institutions. Links to sustainability should be included in the curriculum of every subject.
"Pivoting the focus towards skills building can give young people a better starting position for their green careers"
While education is fundamental, gaining necessary green skills is the next step. The imbalance between academic education and practical green skills is a further reason why young professionals struggle in their job search. There is a tendency for recruiters to look favourably on practical experience, disregarding the potential of younger, more inexperienced, but highly educated, graduates, even though it has been found that younger generations acquire green skills faster.
Increasingly, young people feel the need for a sense of purpose in their work and this, combined with increasing climate- or eco-anxiety, can lead to behaviours that might range from higher motivation to dissatisfaction wherever values do not align. Climate-anxiety is more prevalent in younger generations and, therefore, the need to work in roles that positively contribute to the environment is much greater.
Although these factors may cause friction between management and jobseekers, finding common ground should be considered.
Possible solutions
Addressing the issues above should be approached from multiple angles simultaneously. Creating better and more comprehensive sustainability education and pivoting the focus towards skills building can give young people a better starting position for their green careers.
At the same time, understanding that climate-anxiety will affect the behaviours of younger people and considering their inherently different values will help bridge the gap between young people and recruiters. Moreover, career advice should be tailored to be more appropriate and useful for early career professionals.
Creating awareness about these challenges and instilling confidence will help young applicants break into the climate space.
