In recent years, sustainability and ESG policies—covering the environment, social responsibility, and governance—have ceased to be niche concerns and have become a central element of many business strategies across Canada and the United States. A Manpower report notes that seven out of ten companies are hiring or planning to fill green jobs and related skills. Yet despite widespread ESG initiatives, about 94% of organizations admit they lack the necessary capabilities to reach their goals.
As the demand for green profiles grows, experts anticipate a sharp rise in job creation over the next five years. The World Economic Forum projects that hundreds of millions of roles could emerge globally by 2030, underscoring the urgency of accelerating skills development and reskilling efforts. Projections also show that roughly six in ten professionals will require additional training before 2027 to align with this shifting landscape.
The shift mirrors a broader effort to combat climate change, strengthened by rising consumer expectations and a notably conscious workforce, led by Generation Z. Around half of consumers worldwide indicated a willingness to pay more for sustainable products last year, according to the Institute for Business Value, highlighting the market pull behind responsible practices.
Governments are stepping in with policy and funding to support sustainability initiatives. The European Union, for instance, expanded its Green Deal with a new Industrial Plan that includes substantial investment to accelerate progress, signaling how public and private sectors can collaborate to drive change.
Within the workplace, leaders recognize the strategic value of green skills. The ManpowerGroup perspective emphasizes the need to mobilize upskilling and reskilling as a practical response to demand—aiming to prepare millions of workers for green roles while helping organizations realize their sustainability targets. The data presented in this report supports this view and shows a clear link between workforce development and market demand, with expectations of more than 30 million green-skilled professionals appearing in the coming years.
Investing in green skills is no longer optional. Companies across sectors are reporting that surging demand for sustainable competencies extends beyond environmental teams into technology, data analytics, sales and marketing, engineering, leadership, and human resources. This broader talent shift reflects a new standard where sustainability intersects with every core business function.
Closing the gap in green expertise is crucial for performance. Estimates from Accenture indicate that an unresolved skills shortage could depress company results by meaningful margins, underscoring the importance of proactive training and career development. As organizations chart their path, the focus remains on building durable capabilities that can adapt to evolving regulations, technologies, and consumer expectations.