New Delhi, September 2025:
India is witnessing a sharp rise in demand for careers related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and green jobs, driven by policy pushes, corporate sustainability goals, and growing public awareness of climate change.
📈 What the Trends Show
- According to data from popular job platforms like foundit, green job postings in India saw an 81% year-on-year increase in January 2025.
- Roles such as Sustainability Managers, Environmental Consultants, ESG Analysts, Safety Specialists, and Design Engineers are among the most in demand.
- Growth is not limited to major metro areas: Tier II and III cities are emerging as significant hubs for green roles. These include sectors like renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), sustainable textiles, green construction, waste management, and clean technology.
🌱 What’s Fueling the Demand
- Government Policy & Net-Zero Goals
India’s target to achieve net zero by 2070, along with ambitious renewable energy goals (solar, wind, green hydrogen), is pushing both public and private sector companies to integrate ESG practices. - Corporate Accountability, Investor Pressure
ESG compliance and sustainability reporting are becoming essential for businesses to attract investment, comply with global supply chain expectations, and maintain reputations abroad. Companies are hiring talent to monitor, report, and improve environmental and social impact. - Skill Gap Opens Up Space
While demand is rising rapidly, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in many ESG / green roles. Upskilling programs, educational collaborations, and specialized training are being emphasised by both industry and institutions.
What It Means for Job Seekers & Students
- Career Choices: Students interested in environmental science, sustainable engineering, policy & governance, renewable energy, waste management, green finance etc., are likely to find increasing opportunities in coming years.
- Skill-building Priority: Beyond academic qualifications, skills in data analysis, sustainability reporting, environmental impact assessment, lifecycle analysis, GIS, remote sensing, understanding of ESG frameworks and regulations are becoming very valuable.
- Opportunities Beyond Big Cities: Because demand is also growing in smaller cities, there may be more options closer to home rather than having to relocate to metros.
- Emerging Roles & Hybrid Profiles: Professionals who can combine sustainability expertise with digital, technical or managerial skills (e.g. ESG analytics, AI for climate, clean technology development, green supply chain) have an edge.
⚠️ Challenges / Things to Watch Out For
- Skill shortage is a real bottleneck. Many education/training programs are still catching up.
- Quality & Standardization: ESG / green roles need credible standards, well-defined frameworks; otherwise there’s risk of superficial compliance.
- Regulatory and Policy Uncertainty can affect job stability in projects, subsidies, funding.
- Wage disparities: Salaries vary widely, especially between Tier I & non-metro regions; newcomers or those without technical skills may find limited opportunities initially.
✅ Outlook
India’s green job market is poised to keep expanding. Estimates suggest creation of 7.29 million green jobs by FY2028, with even more in later years. As sustainability becomes mainstream, ESG roles are likely to become core parts of many industries—not just niche. For those willing to build relevant skills and adapt, this can be a path to both purpose and livelihood.
