Green transformation: Companies are fighting against a shortage of skilled workers!

Green transformation: Companies are fighting against a shortage of skilled workers!

Mannheim (ots)

In today's business world, green transformation has become more important and companies are now required to address ecological goals and the corresponding personnel situation. A new study from Hays shows that many companies are not yet well prepared, although they are increasingly aware of the need to strengthen their sustainability strategy. The survey surveyed 781 managers from various industries in Germany and Austria in order to get a comprehensive picture of the current challenges.

The study reveals that 69 percent of the organizations surveyed consider the issue of sustainability to be very important, especially in order to improve their corporate image. Social responsibility, customer requirements and regulatory requirements play a central role. Nevertheless, there is a clear difference between different hierarchical levels: While upper management sees sustainability primarily as a risk reduction and opportunity to develop new business areas, the focus at middle and lower management levels is more on increasing efficiency and customer interests.

An imbalance of responsibility

Interestingly, there are different views within companies about who is responsible for sustainability initiatives. While board members generally see responsibility as their own, this is less clear for team and department leaders. This suggests that there is often no clear allocation of responsibility, which could compromise the effectiveness of sustainability strategies.

Despite the well-known skills gap in the area of ​​“green skills”, the topic often remains a secondary priority on companies’ strategic agendas. Sustainability is treated primarily as an environmental necessity, with a focus on energy conservation, resource utilization and occupational safety. Only 38 percent of those surveyed have planned programs for training and further education in the area of ​​sustainability.

The green skills gap

According to the study, the biggest hurdle for companies on the way to green transformation is a lack of skilled personnel and a lack of know-how. 36 percent of companies identify the shortage of skilled workers as a main problem, while 31 percent find the bureaucratic hurdles burdensome. The shortage of qualified workers is particularly pronounced in rural regions. Sectors such as construction and water supply are struggling enormously for technically trained specialists, while there is also a lot of catching up to do in academic professions in the areas of management and MINT (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology).

In order to counteract the skills gap, many companies see further training for their existing employees as one of the solutions. 41 percent of those surveyed rely on internal training on green skills. Another concern is targeting underrepresented groups, such as migrants and women in full-time employment, to attract diverse talent.

An interesting strategy of many large companies is to search internationally for skilled workers. These companies often use their better contacts abroad to find suitable candidates. Industry expert Paul Endres from Hays outlines that a mix of qualification, retraining and targeted promotion of young talent in green professions is necessary to master the challenge.

In addition, it was determined that 86 percent of companies are already aware of the new reporting requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or are planning to do so. Despite this positive development, only a small proportion of those surveyed (2 percent) feel adequately prepared without external help. The vast majority (55 percent) use external experts and tools for support to meet complex requirements.

For a detailed look at the case, see the report on www.presseportal.de. Hays CEO Alexander Heise emphasizes that it is crucial for companies to identify early on which green skills will be required in the coming years and whether the qualifications can be achieved by creating new positions or through further training.