What is the Global Green Skills Gap and Why Should You Care?
Why Green Skills Are the Key to Unlocking Saudi Arabia’s Sustainable Future
At the time of writing this article, the temperature in Riyadh stands at 44°C. The air quality is labelled ‘Dangerous’ by Accuweather. These are not just extreme weather conditions, they are urgent reminders of why sustainability matters now, more than ever.
Sustainability is no longer a niche concept. It is an urgent, unavoidable priority, and it starts with the people who can turn ideas into action. Yet despite billions invested globally in climate solutions, a critical obstacle remains: the green skills gap.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report identifies this shortfall as one of the most pressing challenges of our time. As new roles emerge across renewable energy, sustainable tourism, waste management, and environmental design, too few professionals are equipped to take them on.
What Exactly Is the Green Skills Gap?
The green skills gap refers to a shortage of individuals with the knowledge, mindset, and practical tools needed to implement sustainable practices at scale. These skills go far beyond technical roles. They include environmental impact assessment, green technology adoption, circular economy planning, low-carbon logistics and supply chains, and strategic innovation.
It is about cultivating not just awareness, but action.
Why It Matters in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a bold and brilliant plan for sustainable transformation, and its success depends on a workforce prepared to deliver it. Every project and megaproject, from NEOM to the Red Sea Development, relies on leaders, technicians, engineers, and educators who understand how to balance innovation with environmental responsibility.
With Vision 2030, the Kingdom has already positioned itself as a regional leader in sustainable development. Realising these ambitious projects depends not only on vision and investment, but on ensuring teams have the targeted training and support to deliver sustainable outcomes.
Failure to address this gap could lead to:
Project Delays: Insufficient expertise can slow progress on critical initiatives.
Missed Opportunities: Companies unable to innovate risk falling behind in the global push for sustainability.
Reputational Risks: Failing to meet environmental standards could damage trust and stakeholder confidence.
As a leader, you may already see this gap within your team. Have your colleagues struggled to align sustainability projects with regulatory expectations, apply environmental best practices to operations, or communicate across departments when tackling green initiatives? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone.
A Gulf of Opportunity
Unlike many regions, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC are uniquely positioned to close the green skills gap quickly. National funding is already flowing into education and innovation, the population is young and ambitious and there is growing appetite to contribute meaningfully to the Kingdom’s global leadership in this area.
The Data Speaks For Itself
LinkedIn’s July 2024 data highlights that 11.7 % of job postings in Saudi Arabia now require green skills. That’s on par with leading nations like the UK and Ireland. Yet demand is rising more than twice as fast as supply, creating a widening green-skills gap.
Closing this gap requires a shift in mindset. At Jassour, we partner with HR and L&D teams to design green learning pathways, deliver bilingual training and integrate Vision 2030 goals into every course.
We believe sustainability begins with skills, and skills start with education. Together, we can make the green economy not only a policy goal, but a lived reality for teams across the Kingdom.
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