Information from Groundwork
UK will struggle to meet Net Zero targets unless young people are encouraged to join the green economy
A new Groundwork report has found that more needs to be done to encourage young people towards a career in the waste and resource management industry to tackle plugging the green skills gap.
In Planning for the future: Recruiting diverse talent into waste and resources management, 70% of16-24 year olds surveyed have never received any careers advice on the skills required or roles available in the waste and resources management sector, while around half cited a lack of information as a career barrier, despite the UK government legislating a Net Zero emissions target in 2019 for 2050.
However, in spite of so many young people admitting to not considering a career in the sector, almost half (47%) reported that having a job that helps the UK reach carbon neutrality was important to them, with more of those in the older 18-24 age group considering it important (49%) than those aged 16 and 17 (28%). This suggests that more work needs to be done for employers and those with influence to educate Gen Z on the role they play in achieving Net Zero.
The report has been written in collaboration between Groundwork the Environmental Services and Solutions Expo and will be launched at the event on Wednesday 11 September by Groundwork’s Head of Delivery and Learning, Andy Harrison.
