Green jobs and technology: Trending influences on the outplacement market

Technology seems to be evolving at such a dizzying speed nowadays that it’s hard to keep up with all of the changes sometimes. Ten years ago, you’d never have dreamt that you could command your robot hoover, from the middle of the South Downs, to vacuum your living room. Or pay your electricity bill at the touch of a button while standing in the Post Office queue.

It’s an incredible world we live in.

And we want to keep it that way.

In addition to tech roles, “green” jobs are an emerging sector. In a report published in March 2024 by the Office for National Statistics, UK employment in the green sector stood at 639,400 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 2022, an increase of “8.4% when compared to the 2021 estimate of 589,600 FTEs, and 19.9% higher than the estimate of 533,200 FTEs for 2020.” According to the same study “48% of all UK employees across the economy worked in 1 of 10 industries that each accounted for less than 1% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions” in 2022.

A November 2024 report, commissioned by Careerminds, states that the UK government has set an ambitious target of two million green jobs by 2030… that’s just five years away.

If any of your employees are facing redundancies or layoffs, and are unsure where to turn to next, take heart from this statistic. It emphasises the deep need for workers with specialisms in this field, underscoring “the importance of outplacement services in facilitating workforce transitions into emerging green roles”.

Before we delve any deeper, let’s look at what we mean by green and tech jobs, so it’s clear what sort of roles we’re talking about.

Green jobs, also known as eco or sustainable jobs, are defined as “agricultural, manufacturing, research and development, administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. This includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; decarbonise the economy; and minimise or avoid the generation of all forms of waste and pollution,” according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Tech jobs are a bit trickier to pin down as they cover and infiltrate into such a wide range of industries. Essentially they are positions producing, maintaining, and developing computer hardware and software systems used by consumers and businesses to make their lives a little easier.

Just like the green sector, the UK tech industry is booming. Tech Nation’s state of the nation report on UK tech puts the value of the tech sector at £784bn in the UK at the beginning of 2024, which makes it the leading tech ecosystem in Europe. It also states that it employed 2.1 million workers in 2023, set to increase by 2% in 2024.

This is backed up by research from Business Matters magazine in January 2025, which lists the 15 fastest growing jobs in the UK market. Not surprisingly 11 of these are in green and tech roles, including AI Engineer, Cybersecurity Specialist, Software Architect, Robotics Engineer, Sustainability Manager, and Renewable Energy Technician.

As pointed out, these sectors are huge and are only going to get bigger. While sorting out Brexit might seem like ages ago, its repercussions will last for years as it accelerated the demand for digital transformation across various sectors.

One of those sectors is outplacement, which is increasingly incorporating upskilling initiatives that align employees with emerging job market needs, such as in technology-driven roles and the green sector.

Our report found that “the green and technology sectors significantly influence the outplacement services market in the UK… evidenced through evolving employment landscapes and the corresponding demand for career transition support.”

Here’s why it’s important to inform your exiting workforce of this shift in order to give them more opportunities elsewhere.

• Employment shifts: The European Green Deal aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, boosting the economy with green technology and creating sustainable industries. This will reshape job markets across Europe, leading to new roles and either the transformation or obsolescence of others. This leads to an increased need for outplacement services, which will assist workers transitioning from more traditional industries to the green sector.
• Sector impact: Industries such as coal mining and refined petroleum are in decline due to this green transition, while sectors such as renewable energy and waste management are on the up. This means outplacement services can help to support outgoing employees in finding new opportunities within this evolving job market.
• Technology sector influencing redundancies and restructuring: While the technology sector is growing, it has also seen substantial workforce disruptions, with significant redundancies reported. For example, nearly 2,000 tech companies laid off 260,000 employees worldwide in 2023, with an additional 81,000 tech workers affected in 2024. This trend heightened the demand for outplacement services in supporting these displaced tech professionals to secure other roles within the industry.
• Skill evolution: Rapid technological advancements alter job requirements, particularly in AI and automation. Workers need to upskill or reskill to remain relevant, with outplacement services remaining pivotal in providing this vital training and career guidance. This includes signposting to relevant bodies and government initiatives.

We all want the best for the earth, our home. So let’s look at what Germany, France, and the Netherlands are doing with regards to green and tech jobs in 2025 and beyond. The Netherlands is taking the lead with outplacement providers focused on delivering specific green job search support, gaining access to networks in the tech sector, and digital upskilling. Germany and France both show strong green sector alignment and growth, with green sector-specific programmes helping displaced employees find new meaning and new sectors in the green and tech industries.

There are many ways in which outplacement providers, such as Careerminds, can help by delivering comprehensive outplacement support to all those in need.

This can be achieved by:

• Expanding sector-specific offerings by tailoring outplacement services to the in-demand sectors, such as green energy and technology
• Investing in the latest digital tools by developing AI-driven platforms that personalise job matching, skill assessments, and virtual coaching
• Delivering emotional support by integrating mental health support and wellbeing initiatives that address the emotional toll of layoffs and avoid burnout
• Including international job opportunities by supporting global career transitions, so departing workers can explore other options; a trend that is especially relevant for multinational companies operating in the UK

• Green and tech jobs are on the rise, so these are the sectors where there are new and exciting job opportunities for laid off employees
• The impact of these sectors will ripple out for years to come
• Outplacement can help with this high demand by offering career transition services that lead towards upskilling and reskilling

If your organisation is looking to purchase outplacement services, then look no further than Careerminds. Contact us now to find out how we can help you, your employees, and your business. 

Elizabeth Openshaw

Elizabeth is a diligent, articulate, and versatile Blogger and CV Consultant with over 13 years of experience in the job search sector, including extensive expertise in outplacement services and CV reviews, supporting job seekers and all of those involved in the recruitment process. With a personable and self-assured outlook, Elizabeth consistently produces work to a high standard and hits deadlines 100% of the time. Showcases excellent organisational and time management skills, proven by 17 years as a Journalist on numerous national publications including as Features Editor on a monthly glossy magazine and as a regular contributor to Men’s Health, Slimming World and Candis. As Director of her own company, OpenDoor CV Expertise Ltd, Elizabeth displays a high level of professionalism, demonstrated by the positive recommendations and testimonials from many previous clients. Additionally, she is an active member of both the British Association of CV Writers (BACVW) and the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), supporting people to gain work, progress in work, and retain work.