Green jobs in the green economy: A sector-by-sector overview

As our clients (internal as well as external) recognise that sustainability is an important criterion for every project, the concept of 'green jobs' is at the front of many people’s minds. What are they? What do I need to know in order to make my own career and earning potential “sustainable” and “regenerated”? This blog by APM’s sustainability interest network provides a comprehensive overview of green jobs available to project managers, exploring the sustainability priorities, project roles, key interfaces and necessary skills across various industries.

Structure of this blog

For each commercial and industrial sector we’ve used the same structure:

• priorities and dilemmas facing that sector, relating to the transition to a more sustainable world
• primary projects: projects that directly address these priorities and dilemmas, and roles and skills that might meet these priorities
• secondary projects: projects that enable the primary projects
• Who the customers are, and therefore where you should look to understand the customer’s priorities
• Skills that might be useful

It’s been said that 65% of jobs people will have in 20 years time don’t exist today. There are certainly some new jobs that didn’t exist 20 years ago (Influencer, Prompt Engineer, 3D Printer operator, Uber driver) but it isn’t as much as 65%.

However we can change, and we are changing. We have the same brain that caveman had, yet we are able to keep up with the technology of the current age – so we can go a lot further.

“Can sectors change far enough and quickly enough – in a generation? Yes they can! Look what happened to railways in the 19th century. Look at getting a man on the moon. Look at recent progress in mobile phones, the internet, computer technology, sub prime mortgages – in less than a generation time span. Sustainability is happening similarly. It will not be overnight but it will be quick. With a rolling start from the last ten years much can be achieved in next ten years.” Tom Taylor "Sustainability Interventions"

1. Energy Sector

Sustainability Priorities and Dilemmas:

• Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources
• The impact on the transmission grid of multiple, geographically dispersed generators and storage of energy (rooftop solar power, onshore wind, car batteries)
• Improving energy efficiency and storage technologies
• Balancing immediate energy needs with long-term sustainability goals
• Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and the jobs that have existed for decades

Projects and project roles:

Primary projects	Primary project roles
Wind and solar farm installations Grid modernization projects Energy storage system development	Renewable Energy Project Managers Smart Grid Engineers Energy Efficiency Consultants
Secondary projects	Secondary project roles
Energy auditing and retrofitting into existing infrastructure Developing energy management software	Energy Auditors Sustainability Software Developers

Key Interfaces (customers with priorities):

• Government regulators
• Local communities
• Environmental scientists

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of renewable energy technologies
• Understanding of energy policy and regulations
• Data analysis and modelling skills

2. Manufacturing and Industry

Sustainability Priorities and Dilemmas:

• Implementing circular economy principles
• Reducing waste and increasing resource efficiency
• Balancing cost-effectiveness with sustainable practices

Projects and project roles:

Primary projects	Primary project roles
Redesigning products for circularity Implementing zero-waste manufacturing processes	Circular Economy Specialists Sustainable Product Designers Green Manufacturing Engineers
Secondary projects	Secondary project roles
Supply chain sustainability audits Waste reduction and recycling programmes	Supply Chain Sustainability Managers Waste Reduction Coordinators

Key Interfaces:

• Suppliers and vendors
• Recycling and waste management companies
• Consumer groups

Required Skills:

• Life cycle assessment knowledge
• Lean manufacturing principles
• Material science expertise
• Green audit and green accounting
• Product and packaging design
• Process design

3. Transportation

Sustainability Priorities and Dilemmas:

• Electrification of vehicles and development of alternative fuels
• Improving public transportation systems
• Managing the environmental impact of battery production
• Integrated transportation – road capacity and factors affecting, distribution of charging infrastructure, interfaces with other means of transport

Projects and project roles:

Primary projects	Primary project roles
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure development Sustainable urban mobility planning Alternative fuel research and development	Sustainable Transport Planners EV Infrastructure Project Managers Alternative Fuel Researchers
Secondary projects	Secondary project roles
Fleet electrification programmes Public transport user experience improvement	Fleet Sustainability Managers Transport UX Designers

Key Interfaces:

• Urban planners
• Automotive manufacturers
• Public transport authorities

Required Skills:

• Understanding of transport systems and infrastructure
• Knowledge of electric vehicle technology
• Urban planning principles
• Planning regulations and public consultation

4. Construction and Real Estate

Sustainability Priorities and Dilemmas:

• Improving energy efficiency in buildings
• Using sustainable and low-carbon materials
• Balancing higher upfront costs with long-term benefits in-use

Projects and project roles:

Primary projects	Primary project roles
Green building design and construction Energy-efficient retrofitting of existing buildings	Sustainable Architects Green Building Project Managers Energy Efficiency Consultants
Secondary projects	Secondary project roles
Building performance monitoring and optimization Sustainable landscaping and urban greening	Building Performance Analysts Sustainable Landscape Architects

Key Interfaces:

• Building owners and facility managers
• Green building certification bodies
• Material suppliers

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of green building standards (e.g., BREEAM)
• Understanding of sustainable construction materials and techniques
• Energy modelling expertise, especially to comply with green building standards

5. Agriculture and Food Production

Sustainability Priorities and Dilemmas:

• Implementing sustainable farming practices
• Reducing food waste throughout the supply chain
• Balancing increased food production needs with environmental protection
• Automation and production efficiency
• Lab-grown foodstuffs, vegan foods, and migration away from shed-farmed meat

Projects and project roles:

Primary projects	Primary project roles
Precision agriculture implementation Sustainable irrigation system development Vertical farming projects Laboratory food production	Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Precision Farming Project Managers Vertical Farming Engineers Chemical engineers
Secondary projects	Secondary project roles
Food waste reduction programmes Novel interfaces between industries eg waste from packaging used to grow mycoprotein for food Sustainable packaging initiatives	Food Waste Reduction Coordinators Sustainable Packaging Designers

Key Interfaces:

• Farmers and agricultural cooperatives
• Food retailers and distributors
• Agricultural technology providers

Required Skills:

• Understanding of sustainable farming practices
• Knowledge of agricultural technology and IoT
• Food supply chain expertise
• FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) marketing

6. Technology and IT

Sustainability Priorities and Dilemmas:

• Developing energy-efficient hardware and data centres
• Creating software solutions for environmental monitoring and management
• Balancing data privacy concerns with environmental data collection needs

Projects and project roles:

Primary projects	Primary project roles
Green data centre design and implementation Environmental monitoring system development AI for sustainability applications	Green IT Project Managers Environmental Data Scientists Sustainability AI Developers
Secondary projects	Secondary project roles
E-waste management programmes Green coding initiatives	E-Waste Management Specialists Green Code Auditors

Key Interfaces:

• Hardware manufacturers
• Environmental agencies
• Cloud service providers
• Data centre customers such as Finance, Security, Records Management

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of green IT practices
• Data analysis and machine learning expertise
• Understanding of environmental monitoring techniques

7. Finance and Investment

Sustainability Priorities and Dilemmas:

• Developing green financial products and services
• Implementing ESG criteria in investment decisions
• Addressing 'greenwashing' and ensuring credibility of green investments

Projects and project roles:

Primary projects	Primary project roles
Green bond issuance and management Sustainable investment fund development ESG integration in financial analysis and reporting	Green Finance Specialists ESG Investment Analysts Sustainable Fund Managers
Secondary projects	Secondary project roles
Carbon accounting and reporting systems Sustainability risk assessment frameworks	Carbon Accountants Sustainability Risk Analysts

Key Interfaces:

• Regulatory bodies
• Corporate sustainability officers
• ESG data providers

Required Skills:

• Understanding of green finance principles
• ESG analysis and reporting expertise
• Knowledge of sustainability accounting standards

Conclusion

The transition to a green economy is creating a wide range of new job opportunities across all sectors. These roles require a combination of technical expertise in sustainability-related areas and soft skills such as systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and adaptability.

For project managers, leaders, and sponsors, the key to success in this evolving landscape lies in understanding the specific sustainability priorities and dilemmas of their industry, recognizing the importance of both primary and secondary project roles, and fostering effective communication across key interfaces.

As the green economy continues to grow, continuous learning and upskilling will be crucial. Organizations should invest in training programmes that cover both technical sustainability skills and the broader competencies needed to drive sustainable change.

By embracing these new roles and developing the necessary skills, we can create a workforce that is not only prepared for the green jobs of today but is also capable of innovating and adapting to the sustainability challenges of tomorrow.

 

You may also be interested in:

• Driving change: APM and the sustainability interest network group
• What is sustainability in project management?
• APM Sustainability Interest Network