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A significant number (77%) of the youth in the Asia Pacific (APAC) who will join the workforce are looking at working in the green economy within the next 10 years. This is one of the findings of Accenture’s latest research titled “Youthquake Meets Green Economy.”

The research found that there is more youth in APAC than in other countries who want to establish a career in organizations that have an environmentally sustainable agenda.

“There is every indication that the region’s youth are especially enthusiastic about making a positive environmental impact and working for organizations that demonstrate a real commitment to sustainability,” Gianfranco Casati, CEO for Growth Markets at Accenture. “The challenge is now for companies to move quickly enough to appeal to this talent and design jobs that allow youth to make a lasting difference.”

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The research surveyed 29,500 youth aged between 15 and 39, in 18 countries.


According to Accenture’s modeling of job creation, it is estimated that the number of green jobs in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, and Japan could grow by 62%, reaching 32.6 million, by 2030. More than 12 million jobs are expected to be in the area of transportation, and almost 10 million more jobs will come from increasing the supply of low-carbon electricity, especially in the form of renewable energy.
 

Sustainability


“Many companies have started by making public commitments to sustainability,” Casati said. “Now they have to execute by prioritizing green economy activities: the kind that has a primary purpose of protecting or restoring the environment while creating new employment opportunities,”

The Accenture research recommends that companies must be aware that the youth these days are more discerning and critical than before. They know if companies are just greenwashing so any environmental initiatives must be genuine and authentic.

Organizations must consciously design “green collar” jobs to spark innovation.

“Today’s sustainability challenges demand fresh, hybrid solutions,” Accenture said in its media advisory. “Companies need to bring in a mosaic of talent profiles into new types of teams to build these solutions faster.

Not all green jobs require advanced degrees. A large portion of green skills will be needed in entry-level roles and require vocational qualifications.

“Based on our research, youth in the region are eager to receive the specialized training these jobs require,” Accenture said. “For companies, this creates unique opportunities to invest in upskilling or reskilling these aspiring young workers.”