Upskilling for impact: How sustainability is becoming a must-have skillset

Sustainability is increasingly shaping how Australian companies operate, from reporting and compliance to finance, logistics, and workforce strategy decisions

Yet, whilst the expectations and regulations have evolved, many businesses and roles are lagging. Many professionals now find themselves in the awkward situation of needing to understand carbon data, assess supply chain impacts, or respond to stakeholder concerns about climate risk, often without formal training.

A recent report by RMIT Online and Deloitte Access Economics found that around 1.9 million workers in medium and large Australian businesses already use some green skills. A further 1 million workers will need to develop them by 2030.

Crucially, these aren't just sustainability-specific jobs. They're roles that already exist today in procurement, marketing, finance, or engineering, where sustainability is becoming part of everyday jobs.

One of the biggest drivers of this shift is regulation. From July 2025, large Australian companies must publish annual climate disclosures, reporting their emissions, risks, and governance structures. These rules, embedded in the Corporations Act, make climate data central for financial reporting.

Finance and legal teams must understand new standards. Operations staff must align business processes with environmental targets. Boards need to be climate-literate.

On top of that, Australia's national push towards net-zero is reshaping entire industries. Clean energy projects are expanding, infrastructure is being transformed, and new expectations around environmental performance are emerging across the board.

Despite these changes, most companies are still playing catch-up. Fewer than a third of businesses currently offer any form of sustainability or green skills training. The gap is most severe in fast-growing sectors like renewables, finance, and infrastructure.

In the energy sector, for example, demand for workers with sustainability expertise is rising far faster than training pipelines can supply. We're talking electricians, engineers, and planners. Three in four professionals in financial services say the demand for climate-related expertise is growing, but more than 60% say they lack the necessary skills to meet it.

Across the economy, the message is the same: demands are rising, but the skills aren't keeping pace.

This means that, for businesses, investing in sustainability skills is increasingly about staying competitive, delivering returns or avoiding penalties. For individuals, it is a big opportunity. 

Companies are now paying a premium for sustainability expertise. According to our report with Deloitte, employers are willing to pay up to 13% more, or roughly $13,000 annually, for managers who bring green skills into leadership roles.

Workers who understand sustainability are also more likely to take on strategic projects, lead change, and shape long-term business direction. 

Many of the most in-demand sustainability skills can be developed through short, focused training. From climate scenario analysis to sustainable procurement and emissions accounting. The key is targeted, job-relevant learning that supports professionals as they grow into new responsibilities.

A range of online courses and micro-credentials now exist to meet this need. They're tailored for working professionals, and employers increasingly use these programs to fill skill gaps quickly and at scale.

Some of the most valuable areas for upskilling include climate risk and reporting, green supply chain management and lifecycle analysis, ESG communication and stakeholder engagement, sustainable design, and carbon accounting.

In most cases, the point isn't to become a specialist. It's to build confidence and fluency to understand sustainability challenges, contribute to solutions, and guide decisions. 
 

In addition to opening new opportunities and better salaries, sustainability can accelerate careers. Professionals demonstrating knowledge are being asked to take on bigger projects and greater responsibility.

This shift is particularly significant for early and mid-career professionals. In a competitive job market that increasingly rewards adaptability, sustainability knowledge helps differentiate you.

It also reflects the reality that change is happening whether organisations are ready or not. Climate impacts are here. New reporting rules are arriving. The businesses and professionals who move first will be in the best position to lead.

While public debate about sustainability may ebb and flow, the need to deal with climate issues and regulation will only increase. The main challenge will be to find people with the right skills.

Australia needs more professionals across every industry who understand the realities of climate risk and the tools available to navigate it.

The opportunities are growing for those who are ready to learn.