Companies in China and overseas are investing in sustainability professionals to innovate, cut carbon emissions and enhance resilience, even as talent gaps and training needs present ongoing challenges, according to Linked-In's 2025 Climate Talent Stocktake.

LinkedIn data show that professionals with green skills are hired at a rate 46.6 percent higher than the global average.

Among all industries, the technology sector is leading the charge in green hiring, with annual growth exceeding 11 percent from 2021 to 2025. The rise of artificial intelligence has intensified the need for operational efficiency, energy management, waste reduction and sustainable supply chain expertise.

AI-related green skills are seeing rapid growth, with demand for expertise in operational efficiency, maintenance and repair, product life cycle management and process optimization rising sharply, according to LinkedIn.

"These capabilities are critical as companies grapple with the environmental impact of data centers, chip manufacturing, and the broader digital economy. Extending the lifespan of hardware and optimizing resource use are now central to both cost control and emissions reduction," it said.

This convergence of AI and sustainability is reshaping industry practices worldwide — a trend increasingly visible in China.

Beijing-based QuikTech is a national-level high-tech enterprise driven by AI and robotics that focuses on intelligent solutions for life sciences. To successfully deploy and maintain its advanced automation and smart manufacturing systems for industries such as chemical materials and pharmaceuticals, the company said that human capital requirements are rising sharply.

"The operation of AI-automated chemical synthesis systems significantly elevates the skill requirements for the personnel managing the back-end and platform operations," said Lin Yanwen, vice-president of QuikTech.

Lin explained that recruitment now focuses on interdisciplinary talent with knowledge spanning AI, robotics and complex fields like embodied AI, alongside core domain expertise such as chemistry.

"The successful implementation and scaling of our high-precision laboratory robotics systems require professionals who can fluently integrate technical expertise," Lin said.

These systems, already in use at institutions such as the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, help standardize experimental procedures, enhance consistency and reduce reagent waste and redundant testing — contributing to lower carbon emissions across research activities.

In traditional industries, Pangang Group Xichang Steel and Vanadium Co Ltd is advancing environmental protection through intelligent transformation.

"In the early stages of implementation, the company made extensive preparations to better understand the processes of clean production retrofitting," said Ma Haibo, an executive involved in publicity at the company.

The company focused on recruiting talent with expertise in environmental protection and new energy fields, integrating them with seasoned technical professionals to cultivate a new generation of versatile and innovative talent, Ma said.

As these examples show, companies' demand for green skills is rising rapidly, and this trend is mirrored by the growing interest in green careers among younger professionals.

Globally, 40 percent of workers say they want a job related to energy transition or climate action — a figure that rises to 50 percent among Millennials and 60 percent among Generation Z.

However, challenges remain.

According to LinkedIn data, 30 percent feel they lack the necessary skills, and nearly half report limited access to relevant training.

To meet these challenges, Chinese enterprises are expected to embed green thinking into every aspect of their strategy and operations — from product design and supply chain management to energy use in overseas factories, cross-border logistics, compliance and workforce training, according to LinkedIn.

Wang Qian, country manager of LinkedIn China, said that green development is not just about fulfilling international responsibilities. It is the key to earning market trust and building brand reputation.

"We're seeing more Chinese companies proactively adopt green supply chain management, carbon accounting and sustainable innovation in their overseas projects," Wang said, adding that this not only helps them comply with local regulations, but also makes them more attractive to customers and investors.

"In the future, green skills will be the core competitive advantage for Chinese companies going global. Those who invest early will stand out on the world stage," she said.

yinmingyue@chinadaily.com.cn