As companies target net zero emissions by 2050, industrial decarbonization gathers momentum to embrace novel technologies, smart policies, robust investments, and new business models. To drive such initiatives, talent acquisition activities are on the rise across industries, according to research from GlobalData, a leading data, and analytics company.

The report, "Net Zero by 2050: Industrial Decarbonization Gains Momentum to Fight Climate Change", looks at broad trends around decarbonization across industries.

Kiran Raj, Principal Disruptive Tech Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The recent boom around earth-saving technologies for renewable power generation, energy efficiency, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen economy is fueling the need to hire mid-to-senior level talent in emission-intensive industries, such as energy & utilities, transportation, and construction.”

Sanchari Chatterjee, Senior Disruptive Tech Analyst at GlobalData, notes: “Commissioning solar and wind power generated projects in energy & utilities, designing electric vehicles in transportation, and creating smart grid systems for green buildings continue to remain the hiring sweet spots of big companies to drive decarbonization efforts.”

The roles and companies, vary, but one thing is clear: these are jobs that are only going to increase in volume over time.

• Vestas is scouting for directors in its sales and operations divisions to manage wind energy projects, as well as technicians and engineers globally to design, service, and install wind turbines.
• Volvo is focusing on hydrogen powered-electric vehicles (EVs) evident from its hiring announcements including head of charging and infrastructure and senior hydrogen fuel cell designer.
• AECOM is looking for senior talents like grid modernization market sector leader and associate director of renewable energy. Its focus areas include energy management, solar design, and green building certification.
• Tesla has been on a hiring spree in both transportation and energy. Its Gigafactory powered by solar panels and micro-grids for zero emissions is on the hunt for onboard technicians, analysts, engineers, and managers to handle projects on electric vehicles. It also seeks candidates with experience in manufacturing solar roofing and energy-efficient building materials.

Related: Skills Shortage Could Undo UK Government's Net Zero Plans

Chatterjee concludes: “Seasoned talent in sustainability is imperative to achieve net zero goals by 2050. It can happen only if companies find talent with the right skills and motivation to drive sustainable outcomes without compromising financial attributes. Radical revaluation is required in the hiring strategies of companies operating in energy-intensive industries.”

Looking at the trends, this is a great industry to move into as a talent acquisition pro - particularly if you are working in "old energy" related fields (coal, for example), where hiring is likely to decline over the coming decades.

Consider these points from Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist, LinkedIn:

• Green skills are essential to the transition towards a green economy, with the International Labor Organization estimating 24 million jobs worldwide could be created by the green economy by 2030.
• A shift towards green jobs is underway, with LinkedIn jobs data showing in 2015 the ratio of US oil/gas jobs to renewables/environment jobs was 5:1, but by 2020 this was 2:1.
• We are seeing green jobs span a wide range of industries, from obvious ones like renewables, to more unexpected ones like finance, fashion technologies and transport.

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