Industry data reveals that one-third of all jobs advertised in the UK require at least one ‘green skill’ with recruitment software company Occupop recommending businesses to invest in upskilling their workforce to prepare for a sustainable future.

Occupop believes that the growing demand for professionals with green skills in the UK spans multiple industries, including the apparel industry, revealing a significant talent shortage unable to meet this need.

According to LinkedIn’s 2023 Global Green Skills report, only one in eight British workers possess green skills, with the UK lagging behind several other major economies, including Germany and France.

Occupop stresses the need to close this skills gap, pointing out that while the scale of the task may appear daunting, strategic recruitment focused on “savvy green skills” can unlock economic opportunities for businesses.

David Banaghan, interim CEO at Occupop, emphasises that companies should invest in upskilling their workforce and nurturing talent with expertise in environmental practices to thrive in a sustainable future.

Banaghan states: “The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) estimates that the transition to a green economy could generate as many as 1.6 million new jobs. This potential job boom is both an economic opportunity and a prerequisite for achieving net-zero targets. Additionally, companies can leverage technology to level up their recruitment processes.”

Occupop suggests some measures that the industry could adopt to address the ‘green skills’ gap:

• Training and upskilling: Companies must proactively invest in training programmes that equip existing employees with green skills. Offering apprenticeships, vocational courses, and certifications can bridge the gap and empower workers to contribute effectively to sustainability initiatives.

• Collaborate with educational institutions: Partner with universities, colleges and vocational schools to design a curriculum that aligns with industry needs. Encourage students to pursue green careers by highlighting their opportunities and the impact of such roles.

• Embrace technology: Harness the power of technology to tackle recruitment challenges head-on. Banaghan explains that AI-driven recruitment platforms such as applicant tracking software (ATS), can help identify and attract candidates with the necessary green skills. ATS can streamline sourcing and screening, customise job postings, automate workflows and enhance collaboration among hiring teams, all of which are essential to closing green skills gaps.

• Promote diversity and inclusion: Address disparities related to social class, background, and gender. Occupop says that a diverse workforce brings fresh perspectives and can accelerate innovation. Creating pathways for underrepresented groups to access green training and employment is crucial, and digitised recruitment software can help reduce unconscious bias.

• Government support and policy alignment: Advocate for policies that incentivise green skills development and engage with policymakers to secure funding for vocational training and apprenticeships.

Occupop predicts that as the UK transitions towards net zero, green skills will likely continue to be one of the defining recruitment trends: “Businesses that invest in their workforce’s green capabilities today will reap the rewards of a sustainable tomorrow.”

Sustainability still a priority in apparel industry

GlobalData’s apparel filings data highlights sustainability as a key theme in the industry, even though the mentions plummeted from 12,935 in 2022 to 4,245 in 2024.

Despite this decline, sustainability remains the most used keyword, followed by sustainability report, social and environmental.