After surveying 2,000 school leavers aged 16 to 18, the researchers found that 34% intend to skip university, with 19% planning to do an apprenticeship, and 15% looking to go straight into work.
This appetite for immediate work experience correlates with a growing interest in sustainable careers and wanting to have an impact on the climate crisis, with 47% keen on a green job now.
Encouragingly, 52% of school leavers think jobs that contribute towards a greener future are of higher value than those that don’t, while 54% wouldn’t apply for a job if the employer’s sustainability credentials didn’t match their expectations.
This comes after analysis found that the UK’s net-zero economy grew by 10% last year, generating £83bn in gross value added, which was three times more than the rest of the economy.
“Young people know that meaningful climate action needs to happen now – there is no time to lose," said Helen Bradbury, chief people officer at energy company E.ON, which commissioned the survey. "We also know that rapidly nurturing green skills will be key to achieving the UK’s clean energy ambitions."
Being proud of their work is the number one reason why school leavers are interested in green jobs, on 44%, followed by playing their part in helping the environment and good earning potential, at 39% and 34%, respectively.
The desire to play a role in the energy transition also trumps money considerations for 16% of school leavers, who reported they’d be ready to accept a lower salary to work in a job that helps the environment.
Almost a third of respondents said jobs in renewable energy would be most interesting to them, followed by a quarter who said sustainable construction and design, and just over a fifth who mentioned environmental conservation.
The reasons for school leavers’ interest in moving away from traditional higher education are multi-faceted, with 64% drawn to apprenticeships to avoid student debt, and 67% believing they will gain workplace skills faster than through a university degree.
Growing concerns around sustainability were also found earlier this year when a global poll of 23,000 Gen Z and millennial adults revealed that seven out of 10 think a company’s environmental credentials or policies are important when choosing an employer
Indeed, more than one in 10 have even changed jobs due to concerns about their organisation’s impact, and almost half say they or their colleagues have put pressure on their employers to take action on protecting the environment.
“Gen Zs and millennials are clear about their workplace priorities: they seek employers whose values align with their own,” said Kate Sweeney, partner in human capital at Deloitte UK, which carried out the research. “For most, career satisfaction isn't about climbing the traditional corporate ladder, which suggests a redefinition of success.”
Visit ISEP's Green Careers Hub to learn more about the opportunities for workers in the green economy.
Image credit: Shutterstock
Chris Seekings is the Deputy Editor of ISEP’s Transform magazine, which is published biomonthly for ISEP members. Chris’s role involves writing sustainability-related news, features and interviews, as well as helping to plan and manage the magazine’s other day-to-day activities.
