Survey Results

Thank you for taking the time to share your insights and experiences in our recent careers survey. We can now present the data collected during the first two weeks of May 2023 from the 70 participants…

Q1: Do you know a colleague, family member or a friend who works in the climate sector?

Yes 54%

No 43%

Q2: Where would you look to find information about transitioning into a climate career?

96%

An overwhelming majority of respondents (67/70) relied on LinkedIn as their primary source for gathering information about transitioning into a climate career.

Q3: In what job sector are you currently employed?*

16

Creative
Economy

11

Computer
Technology

9

Non-Profit, Advocacy
or Policy

8

Currently
Unemployed

*Top 4 responses, with 17 different sectors being represented in the results.

Q4: Any specific areas of climate work you’d find most rewarding? *

51

Design &
Communications

46

Renewable
Energy

43

Biodiversity
Ecology

41

Wildlife
Conservation

*Top 4 responses, with 17 different career areas being represented within the 448 votes.

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1. Design + Communications 51

2. Renewable Energy 46

3. Biodiversity + Ecology 43

4. Wildlife Conservation 41

5. Sustainable City Planning 36

6. Education + Research 30

7. Food Production + Farming 29

8. Ocean Preservation + Marine Life 28

9. Green Architecture + Housing 25

10. Water + Waste Management 21

11. Environmental Science 20

12. Carbon Capture + Sequestration 19

13. Transportation Systems 17

14. Environmental Law + Policy 16

15. Software Development 12

16. Finance + Funding 9

17. Recruitment + Talent 2

72%

A significant number of participants (51/70) expressed an interest towards finding a creative role in the climate change space. Whilst only 16/70 (22%) are currently employed in that sector.

Q5: What types of education you have completed?

Bachelor’s Degree

0 %

Master’s Degree

0 %

Certifications / Bootcamps

0 %

Climate-specific

0 %

Doctoral Degree

0 %

Apprenticeship

0 %

Q6: What would you expect a future employer will be looking for?

Climate-specific

0 %

Bachelor’s Degree

0 %

Master’s Degree

0 %

Certifications / Bootcamps

0 %

Doctoral Degree

0 %

Apprenticeship

0 %

The data above highlights a difference between candidates’ perception of the educational requirements for climate jobs and the reality. Only 21% of respondents had climate-specific training or certification, yet 64% believed it was expected by future employers. Similarly, only 4% of the participants had a Professional or Doctoral Degree, but 23% believed it would be required for climate jobs.

Q7: In terms of retraining or up-skilling yourself, have you?

87%

Read climate books
or online literature

51%

Taken a climate course
or workshop online

44%

Joined a grassroots
organisation / movement

37%

Attended a climate-
specific jobs fair

20%

Enrolled in a higher
education course

11%

Other comments: YouTube, Podcasts, Newsletters

Q8: What increase in financial compensation would you need to make the transition?

Q9: When are you thinking of changing careers, what does the time frame look like?

43%

Q8: A substantial proportion of the survey participants, almost half (43%), expressed their willingness to embark on a new climate career without expecting a salary increase.

66%

Q9: A notable two-thirds (46+17+3) of the respondents stated their intention to change jobs within the next couple of months. These findings highlight the strong motivation and eagerness among individuals to embrace climate-related professions.

Q10: If you’ve ever applied for a climate job in the past, how did you find the process? *

25

Tough dealing
with rejection

22

Struggled creating
my resume

22

How to prepare
for interview

15

Where to start
the process!

*Top 4 responses calculated from 119 votes by 52 respondents.

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1. Tough dealing with rejection, how do I turn a negative outcome into a positive = 25 votes 48 %

2. Struggled to create my resume clearly summarising my value: skills, strengths + experiences = 22 votes 42 %

3. Wasn’t sure how to best prepare for a climate role interview = 22 votes 42 %

4. Didn’t even know where to start the process! = 15 votes 29 %

5. Stumbled through the complicated and stressful application process = 13 votes 25 %

6. Found the current climate / career resources overwhelming = 10 votes 19 %

7. Attending the interview was stressful and I felt out of my depth = 8 votes 15 %

8. Other = 4 votes 7 %

Q11: What barriers or restrictions might prevent you from applying for a climate job? *

33

Barrier 1:
Self-confidence

30

Barrier 2:
Financial

29

Barrier 3:
Education/Training

28

Barrier 4:
Location/Transport

*Top 4 responses calculated from the total of 172 votes.

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1. Self-Confidence = 33 votes 47 %

2. Financial = 30 votes 43 %

3. Education / Training = 29 votes 40 %

4. Location / Transportation = 28 votes 40 %

5. Daunting to restart career = 25 votes 36 %

6. Time constraints = 13 votes 18 %

7. Other Barriers or Restrictions = 7 votes 10 %

8. Childcare issues = 4 votes 5 %

9. Disability = 3 votes 4 %

47%

The survey found that 47% of job seekers struggled with the emotional impact of rejection. In particular, self-confidence was a key factor that could prevent them from applying for future climate jobs. Financial concerns 43% and educational requirements 40% were also identified as potential barriers.

Q12: Ideally, what would you like to support a change of career? To help you break into the climate space.

4.3 out of 5

(from 68 votes)

1: Climate career coaching

4.0 out of 5

(from 64 votes)

2: Climate careers mobile app

3.9 out of 5

(from 67 votes)

3: Face-to-face encounters

*Top 3 responses calculated from 528 votes by the 70 respondents.

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1. Climate career coaching service to help you navigate this complex space = 4.3 average 86 %

2. Mobile app with an intuitive job matching service and climate careers advice = 4.0 average 80 %

3. Face-to-face encounters with inspiring individuals who’ve already transitioned into a climate role = 3.9 average 79 %

4. Local in-person hands-on activities hosted in your local community = 3.8 average 76 %

5. Drop-in centres with information, interview practice, climate specific jobs, training, apprenticeships = 3.8 average 76 %

6. Global Climate Expo with job fair, featuring climate tech organisations and start-ups = 3.6 average 72 %

7. Temporary financial support during the application and relocation period = 3.5 average 70 %

8. Mental health practitioners available for sessions centred around climate anxiety, burnout, career change = 3.3 average 66 %

Survey Results

Q1: Do you know a colleague, family member or a friend who works in the climate sector?

Q2: Where would you look to find information about transitioning into a climate career?

96%

Q3: In what job sector are you currently employed?*

16

11

9

8

Q4: Any specific areas of climate work you’d find most rewarding? *

51

46

43

41

72%

Q5: What types of education you have completed?

Q6: What would you expect a future employer will be looking for?

Q7: In terms of retraining or up-skilling yourself, have you?

Q7: In terms of retraining or up-skilling yourself, have you?

Q8: What increase in financial compensation would you need to make the transition?

Q9: When are you thinking of changing careers, what does the time frame look like?

43%

66%

Q10: If you’ve ever applied for a climate job in the past, how did you find the process? *

25

22

22

15

Q11: What barriers or restrictions might prevent you from applying for a climate job? *

33

30

29

28

47%

Q12: Ideally, what would you like to support a change of career? To help you break into the climate space.

1: Climate career coaching

2: Climate careers mobile app

3: Face-to-face encounters

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We're researching ways to unite the talents of professionals in creative industries with the visionary organizations and businesses combating climate change.