Talent shortages in ESG & Sustainability in Hong Kong

When it comes to sustainability, there is both good news and bad news when it comes to Hong Kong. The good news is that there is a rapid surge in demand for the skills and talent to do sustainability-related work in the city; but the bad news is how far we are currently lagging behind Europe and the US when it comes to the agility and speed with which employers are adding green jobs & talent to the workforce.

The numbers don’t lie. According to a recent report on LinkedIn, while Europe and the US have increased their rate of hiring for sustainability-related work by 41 per cent and 70 per cent respectively, over a five-year period, Asia Pacific is still only at 30 per cent growth, even as the world transitions to establishing more sustainable economies. Within Asia Pacific, the numbers are even more concerning: Australia, New Zealand and Singapore are both forging ahead with increasing green jobs while Greater China lags behind. 

One of the primary obstacles to faster growth is that there is a global shortage in the talent, skills and jobs to deliver the transition to a green economy. LinkedIn’s recent report said: “Based on the current trajectory of green skills growth in the labour market, we are not going to have sufficient human capital to meet our climate targets.”

In Hong Kong we are seeing this with our clients daily, with a surge in demand and a focus to upskill and grow within ESG & Sustainability. KITE Search specialises in recruitment and executive search within ESG, Sustainability and Renewables. For the last 8 years we have been working within this sector in Hong Kong and have an extensive network of candidates in these specialisms; our team has in-depth knowledge of the industry and how specific skillsets might be applied to the roles within. For more information on how we can help your business bridge the skills gap and hire the best talent, please reach out to acompton@kite-search.com

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