‘Green Collar’ skills gap to hit IT and Telecoms industry, warns Royal Haskoning

Published 18th September 2008

The rising demand for ‘green collar’ working in Britain will place pressure on the domestic skills market and leave IT and telecoms businesses without the engineering and environmental expertise they require, according to new research from engineering and environment consultancy, Royal Haskoning. The survey of business leaders in IT and telecoms revealed that growing pressure to be ‘green’ from Government and consumers has led to a huge increase in the need for ‘green collar’ skills and services, with nearly half (44%) of respondents concerned about their company’s future ability to satisfy its ‘green collar’ needs.

The survey, conducted by ICM research on behalf of Royal Haskoning, revealed that demand for ‘green collar’ workers – the term used to describe those that work in environmental-related roles or industries – will increase dramatically over the next 12 months. Over half (54%) of British IT and telecoms businesses predict their company’s need for ‘green collar’ skills and services will increase in the future, and 43% believe their workforce would need to increase by as much as 6-10%. The findings echo the views of the Government, which recently outlined its framework for the future of British manufacturing, with business secretary, John Hutton, claiming that one million ‘green collar’ jobs could be created in low-carbon technology. Elsewhere, the Home Office’s migration advisory committee has called for an overall drop in the number of skilled jobs open to non-EU migrants in Britain from 1 million to 700,000; engineering remains an area of shortage.

The shift in skill requirements for the IT and telecoms industry is already underway and will continue to grow at a rapid rate, with one in six (15%) of those surveyed already employing someone with ‘green collar’ responsibilities. Of those that don’t currently employ ‘green collar’ workers, almost a third (29%) believed their company soon planned to make use of ‘green collar’ skills services and products, with over a third (35%) hoping to do so in the next six to 12 months.

A growing eco consciousness and increased regulatory scrutiny means IT and telecoms businesses are feeling pressure from all directions to be ‘green’. According to respondents, the top reasons for an increased need in ‘green collar’ skills and services was the need to meet Government and legislative sustainability targets and criteria (29%) and internal environment policy targets (29%) followed by customer pressure to be ‘green’ (14%).

“As a country we are steadily recognising the need for ‘green’ products, services and skills, but companies are failing to take action. Our research found that just over one in six (15%) IT and telecoms companies didn’t have an environmental policy in place, and of those companies, a further 27% admit there are no plans to implement one”, commented Henry Rowe, member of the Royal Haskoning board of management. “As pressure mounts for British businesses to implement ‘green’ strategies and services, the worry remains whether our current and future domestic skills market can service these demands. We need to encourage the take up of science and engineering degrees and create an environment that fosters home-grown talent in order to ensure Britain benefits, and not suffers from, the forthcoming ‘green collar’ boom.”