In the foreseeable future, significant progress is being made worldwide towards sustainability, characterized by the widespread integration of environmentally friendly technologies and strategies. However, a notable challenge to this ecological revolution is the scarcity of proficient workers. Essential green skills, pivotal for environmentally aware decision-making, hold particular significance for the younger generation. Nevertheless, impediments such as the lack of clearly defined career pathways impede their acquisition. Despite the increasing demand for green skills among employers, there exists a concerning skills disparity. This disparity, combined with a lack of awareness among young individuals, complicates the shift towards a sustainable workforce.
Addressing this challenge involves various difficulties, including the inadequate alignment between skills development and environmental regulations, skill deficits, and the challenges of defining evolving skills. Contributing factors to these deficits encompass the underestimation of growth within green sectors. Proposed policies to bridge this gap encompass enhancing coordination, swift training initiatives, investment in versatile skills, curriculum revisions, and ensuring equal access to retraining opportunities.
Furthermore, the manuscript elucidates the significance of investing in STEM education to facilitate the transition to green skills, as it heightens the appeal of green industries. Embracing interdisciplinary training is deemed a critical stride towards cultivating a proficient workforce capable of actualizing a more environmentally friendly and sustainable world.