Finding your path in the green economy
Green jobs are growing faster than employers can fill them, and they’re more accessible than you might think. Most roles don’t require a science background, and across 81 C40cities, 1 in 10 jobs is already green.
This page brings together practical resources to help young people understand what green jobs are, build relevant skills, and find real opportunities.
On this page:
- See where green jobs already exist in cities
- Start here: understand what good, green jobs are
- Explore the skills you’ll need
- Find real opportunities
- Hear directly from young people around the world
- Find practical tools, pathways and career guidance
- Understand the wider youth employment landscape
Start here: understand what good, green jobs are
Set the record straight on good, green jobs
A simple guide to what green jobs really are and why they matter
This clear, myth-busting guide from C40 explains what makes a job good, like fair wages, safe working conditions, and stable employment, alongside what makes it green. It shows the kinds of roles already emerging, and gives you a reliable picture of where the opportunities are. It’s the best place to begin if you want a solid foundation.
Key highlight: Most green jobs don’t require a science background. The biggest growth area is in everyday roles you can train into quickly.
Global Guidance for Education on Green Jobs
A global framework for what fair, accessible green jobs should look like
This guidance outlines the principles behind equitable green jobs, with a focus on fairness, access, and opportunity across different regions. It’s useful if you want to understand the bigger picture behind what “good” looks like and how countries are shaping future job markets.
Explore the skills you’ll need
LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report 2024
A global snapshot of the skills employers want most in the green economy
This report shows where demand for green skills is rising fastest, which industries are changing, and where shortages are opening up opportunities for young people. It highlights the biggest skill gaps, which sectors are hiring, and how Gen Z can position themselves for success.
Key highlight: Green-skill jobs are growing so quickly that employers can’t find enough qualified people.
Skills for green jobs
A concise look at the skills gap and what it means for young people
This brief explains why green skills are essential for every sector, where the biggest shortages are, and how cities are investing in training to support a just transition. It’s useful if you want to understand the landscape before choosing a path.
Key highlight: Only 13% of workers worldwide have the green skills employers need, and demand is growing much faster than supply.
Find real opportunities
Green Jobs Board
A curated gateway to climate jobs across sectors and experience levels
This searchable job board brings together roles from mission-driven organisations working on climate, sustainability, conservation, circularity, clean energy, and more. It’s a practical way to see what green jobs look like today, what skills they require, and what entry-level options exist.
Hear directly from young people around the world
Green Skills and Green Jobs Youth Consultation
Insights from 1,100 young people across 56 countries on what green jobs mean to them
This consultation gathers youth perspectives on green skills, what counts as a green job, and what needs to change in education, policy, and industry. It’s valuable if you want to see how your peers imagine the future of work and where they see opportunities.
Key highlight: Young people say the biggest barrier to green jobs isn’t motivation, it’s knowing which paths actually lead to paid work.
Find practical tools, pathways and career guidance
Sustainable Futures Toolkit
A free, interactive toolkit to help you explore sustainability careers
This action-focused resource includes self-assessment exercises, skills mapping, advice from professionals, and over 100 career insights. It’s ideal if you want hands-on guidance to clarify your direction and build confidence in your next steps.
Key highlight: Use the toolkit’s “pathfinder” steps to work out which green careers fit your strengths in under 20 minutes.
Understand the wider youth employment landscape
Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024
The big picture on youth employment and how global trends affect your future
This report outlines the forces shaping youth job markets, from climate impacts to economic shifts, highlighting challenges and opportunities across regions. It’s especially helpful for understanding how the green transition fits into the broader job landscape.
Key highlight: Youth unemployment is high globally, but the green sector is among the few where demand for young talent is rising rapidly.
See where green jobs already exist in cities
Tracking global green jobs in cities
A deep dive into where green jobs are growing across 81 global cities
This analysis reveals how many good green jobs already exist, which sectors lead the way, and how cities are using climate action to drive job creation. It’s useful if you want evidence of real opportunities rather than theory.
Key highlight: Across 81 major cities, 1 in 10 jobs is already green.
Green jobs for youth in Africa
Insights into understanding and navigating green job opportunities across African economies
This resource introduces a green job classification tool developed for African contexts, showing the range of roles emerging, skills needed, and sectors most likely to grow. It’s helpful for young people looking for region-specific insight.
Key highlight: Some African cities already have over 20% of their workforce in green jobs.
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Find data, tools, case studies, and how-to guides to understand, create, or improve access to good, green jobs.
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