Governments across the globe are prioritising environmental sustainability and working towards achieving net-zero emissions. India has also embraced this mission, leading to a significant increase in demand for roles focused on green jobs. The ‘Gearing Up the Workforce for a Green Economy’ report by the Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) and Sattva Consulting, supported by JP Morgan, estimates that India could generate 35 million green jobs by 2047 across traditional and emerging sectors, including renewable energy, waste management, electric vehicles, green construction, and sustainable textiles.
Increasing Demand for Green Jobs
Ramesh Alluri Reddy, Chief Executive Officer of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, discussed the growing demand for sustainability-linked roles. He noted that India’s ambitious targets to reduce emissions and promote non-fossil fuel energy sources have spurred significant investments in green infrastructure. This shift has created a surge in green jobs, with projections suggesting 30-35 million additional green skills across sectors by 2047, potentially contributing to a net-zero economy valued at $15 trillion. These roles span renewable energy, electric mobility, sustainable agriculture, green construction, and environmental management.
Sought-After Roles in the Sustainability Sector
Currently, 20% of India’s workforce is employed in green jobs, a figure expected to double by 2030. These roles include solid waste management, agriculture, water waste management, green transportation, and hydrogen. Decarbonisation efforts could unlock $15 trillion in economic opportunities and create 5 million new net jobs by 2070, particularly in mobility, industry, agriculture, and green building. Typical green job roles include solar panel installers, electric vehicle engineers, and environmental scientists. Emerging roles feature renewable energy business engineers and sustainable design architects.
Qualifications and Skills for Sustainability Roles
The transformation of industries has increased the demand for workers with specialised green skills. Skilling programmes are essential to help individuals transition to sustainability-focused positions by providing training in renewable energy, green technology, and environmental management. The Green General Skill Index by UNIDO outlines four pivotal skill sets: engineering and technical skills, science skills, operational management skills, and monitoring skills. Apprenticeships, especially degree apprenticeships, play a crucial role by offering hands-on training and practical experience, thus enhancing job readiness and continuous professional development.
Salary Range for Sustainability Roles
The renewable energy sector in India offers various career opportunities with salaries reflecting the different roles and levels of expertise. In the solar sector, salaries range from Rs 3–12 lakh per annum (LPA) for positions such as solar project managers to technicians. The wind energy sector offers salaries ranging from Rs 2.5–9 LPA for roles like turbine technicians and project leads. The hydroelectric industry offers salaries from Rs 2 to 6 LPA, covering roles from hydropower plant operators to turbine engineers. The green building sector offers salaries from Rs 4–12 LPA for energy efficiency consultants to sustainability analysts. In the high-demand carbon sinks sector, salaries range from Rs 8–25 LPA for roles like climate specialists and carbon analysts.