Green skills demand grows as low-carbon transition reshapes jobs in Singapore

• New green roles: Positions such as Chief Sustainability Officer, ESG Analyst, and ESG Specialist are on the rise.
  
• Sector transformation: Finance, supply chain, aviation, built environment, maritime, and EV sectors are adopting low-carbon practices.
  
• Skills development: Sustainability Reporting and Energy have been identified as priority areas by 2030.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) have published the Green Skills Committee (GSC) report, setting out the green skills required to thrive in a low-carbon economy and the pathways to build these capabilities across sectors in Singapore.

We have identified some of the report highlights most relevant to industry leaders in making assessments around green roles, sector transformation, and skills development. 

What are green jobs, green skills, and a low-carbon economy

According to the report, a green job is an occupation that performs tasks contributing to environmental sustainability. These tasks must support at least one objective, including climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, resource resilience, protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, or pollution prevention.

A green skill, meanwhile, refers to the specific knowledge and abilities required to perform such “green” tasks. For example, a solar photovoltaic (PV) design engineer requires specialised technical skills, including solar PV systems design and solar PV energy assessment, to meet performance and quality standards.

The report also defines a low-carbon economy as one that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic competitiveness and energy resilience. Singapore’s transition to a low-carbon economy is aligned with the Singapore Green Plan and its net-zero emissions target by 2050.

Sectoral green skills opportunities and interventions

Over a two-year period, the 20-member public-private committee reviewed green skills demand and existing interventions across four horizontal sectors and nine vertical sectors. The findings show that the green transition is reshaping business models, job roles, and workforce needs across Singapore’s economy.

Horizontal sectors such as financial services, supply chain management, legal services, and sustainability reporting are seeing growing demand for skills in areas including climate risk analysis, sustainable finance, and sustainable procurement. At the same time, vertical sectors such as aviation, built environment, maritime, electric vehicles, and many more are experiencing job transformation driven by decarbonisation efforts and the adoption of lower-carbon technologies.

In response, more than 100 programmes and interventions have been implemented by government agencies and industry partners to support green skills development for existing and future job roles. These include sector-specific training programmes, and skills frameworks.

The committee also identified Sustainability Reporting and Energy as priority areas with strong near-term demand for green skills and strategic importance to Singapore’s low-carbon transition. About 5,000 workers are projected to be needed in each area by 2030. To address these needs, two sub-workgroups were formed and nine targeted interventions developed, including the Authority (ACRA)’s Sustainability Reporting Body of Knowledge (SR BOK), as well as Continued Education and Training (CET) across key energy subsectors.

Emerging and evolving green job roles

The report also highlights examples of green job roles that are emerging as organisations strengthen their sustainability efforts. These include positions such as:

• Chief Sustainability Officer: Oversees and drives the organisation’s sustainability strategy, initiatives, and ESG performance across operations, supply chains, and portfolios.
  
• ESG Analyst: Assesses and analyses ESG performance by managing data, preparing sustainability reports, and monitoring regulatory and industry compliance.
  
• ESG Specialist: Develops and implements sustainability strategies, oversees ESG reporting, and evaluates ESG risks, impacts, and performance metrics.

New skills identified

• Climate reporting: Collects and analyses data to prepare climate-related disclosures and reports based on recognised frameworks, covering both environmental impacts and climate risks to the organisation.
• Environmental impact assessment: Evaluates the potential environmental and social impacts of projects or policies to inform decision-making and support sustainable development.
  
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) accounting: Assesses, quantifies, and verifies organisational GHG emissions to support carbon footprint management, regulatory compliance, and emissions reduction strategies.
• Sustainability assurance: Verifies the accuracy and completeness of sustainability reporting to enhance transparency, credibility, and alignment with regulatory and sustainability standards.

Preparing the workforce for long-term change

The report marks the conclusion of work by the GSC, which was set up in November 2023 as a joint effort involving government agencies, industry players, unions, training providers, and trade associations and chambers.

As such, MTI and SSG reaffirmed their commitment to continue working with industry partners, unions, and training providers to evolve green skills development in line with business and regulatory changes.

Dr Beh Swan Gin, Permanent Secretary at MTI and GSC Co-Chair, said demand for green skills will continue to grow as Singapore moves towards a low-carbon economy, adding that the report provides clear and practical pathways for companies and workers to prepare for future jobs.

“By investing together in green skills, we are equipping Singapore and Singaporeans to compete and thrive in a low-carbon future,” he added.

Wong Kim Yin, CEO of Sembcorp Industries and GSC Co-Chair, noted that climate mitigation and adaptation will increasingly shape how the economy and workforce evolve, creating new opportunities as the transition progresses.

Meanwhile, Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive, SSG highlighted ongoing efforts to launch new training programmes in key energy subsectors and train-the-trainer initiatives to strengthen expertise in sustainability reporting standards and frameworks.

You may find the full report here. 

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