Meet the Climate Quitters
An ever-growing roster of people are leaving their jobs to pursue careers combating climate change.
Photo: Getty(2)
Tackling climate change will transform the labor market. With the right policies in place, more than 24 million green jobs could be created globally by 2030, according to the International Labor Organization. But finding people to fill those roles quickly won’t be easy. One 2022 LinkedIn survey found that listings for green jobs have grown at an annual pace of 8% since 2015, while green talent grew only 6% each year over the same period.
One bright spot: Many job seekers are now looking to work in companies aligned with climate goals. A 2021 Yale School of Management survey of 2,000 students across 29 business schools globally found that 51% would accept lower salaries to work for an environmentally responsible company. That’s a good sign, because filling the labor gap will require both new skills and people leaving their existing jobs for new and rapidly evolving industries. A reckoning is needed across the workforce, and there are some signs it’s already underway.