For the first time, workers with green skills in non-green job titles accounted for 53% of all green hires. For construction firms, this means project managers procurement specialists and finance teams will also need to understand sustainability principles to remain competitive and efficient.

Energy infrastructure and the talent shortage

The utilities and energy sectors are central to the green transition – and their recruitment difficulties directly affect construction.

Utilities has the highest concentration of green talent at 29.6%, according to the report, but it’s share of green hiring reached 33.4% – which could mean that even this specialised sector cannot find enough qualified workers.

This is critical for construction companies tasked with building the next generation of energy infrastructure.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that global electricity consumption will increase by 3,500 TWh over the next three years. The IEA believes renewables and nuclear power are set to meet 95% of this growth.

This expansion necessitates a large volume of skilled individuals for the associated construction projects. Recent announcements of US$19bn in joint UK and US funding for new nuclear reactors alongside private investment from Microsoft and Google highlight the scale of construction work required.

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