The Indian job market is witnessing a remarkable surge in environment, social, and governance (ESG)-related jobs, highlighting the increasing emphasis on sustainability and corporate responsibility.

According to the global job site Indeed, the ESG sector has experienced an extraordinary growth rate of over 223 per cent in India between April 2019 and April 2023.

The report's findings are based on comprehensive data compiled from job postings and job searches on Indeed's platform, spanning the period from 2019 to 2023.

This extensive analysis provides a robust understanding of the evolving dynamics within the ESG job market. Notably, the report highlights a positive growth in jobseeker demand over the past year, further affirming the increasing attractiveness of ESG-related roles.

One noteworthy revelation from the report is that job searches specifically targeting sustainability roles witnessed an impressive growth of 31 per cent between April 2022 and 2023. This surge marks the highest rate of growth observed in the past three years, further emphasising the escalating interest in ESG careers.

The report suggests that this increasing demand for ESG-related jobs reflects a shifting mindset among employees, particularly the younger generation, who prioritise environmental and social concerns more than their predecessors. It underscores a significant societal shift towards a greater emphasis on sustainability and corporate responsibility in the workforce.

Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales at Indeed India, commented on the significant involvement of the world of work in leveraging employees' passion areas within the ESG space. This observation highlights the growing recognition of the importance of aligning employee interests with ESG initiatives.

Nevertheless, the report also highlighted a noteworthy decline of 22 per cent in job postings for ESG roles in 2022, despite the overall surge in ESG-related job opportunities. This decline suggests that while sustainability remained a crucial component of organisational goals during the pandemic, there may have been a temporary slowdown in the past year, as indicated by the report.

The report further uncovered similar trends in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia. Both countries experienced substantial increases in ESG job postings over the last three years, with Singapore witnessing a growth of 146 per cent and Malaysia observing a growth of 139 per cent. However, like India, both countries also experienced a decline in ESG job postings in the previous year, with Singapore facing a decline of 29 per cent and Malaysia experiencing a dip of 10 per cent.

Despite the decline in job postings, demand from job seekers remained strong in Singapore and Malaysia, with a remarkable growth rate of 71 per cent and 111 per cent, respectively, over the past three years, according to the report. This demonstrates a persistent interest and enthusiasm among jobseekers for ESG-related roles in these countries, reflecting a broader regional trend.

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Source: Press Trust of India