India is poised to become a global leader in the green economy, with a new report projecting the creation of 7.29 million green jobs by financial year 2027-28 and a staggering 35 million by 2047.
The green jobs boom is underpinned by the rapid expansion of India’s green economy, which is pegged to reach $1 trillion by 2030 and $15 trillion by 2070.
The report by NLB Services highlights a significant shift in the green jobs landscape. Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, said, “In the past 4–5 years, we’ve seen green jobs evolve from niche roles to mainstream opportunities across renewable energy, EVs, and sustainable infrastructure.”
He emphasized the evolving skillsets required and said, “Today’s green workforce needs both sustainability know-how and digital fluency, and the increased integration of AI, IoT, blockchain, GIS, and data-driven tools are laying the foundation for progressive, new-age green careers.”
Key findings
This optimistic outlook surpasses earlier predictions, with new estimates indicating an even faster increase in job demand, particularly in renewable energy, electric vehicles, green construction, waste management, and sustainable textiles.
Industries are actively responding to this shift by not only investing in green technology but also prioritizing the development of a skilled workforce. This is leading to changes in hiring strategies, with a greater emphasis on practical green skills and hands-on experience over traditional degrees. Many companies are collaborating with educational institutions and investing in inclusive hiring and re-skilling programs to meet the growing demand.
While major metropolitan areas like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi remain key hubs for green jobs, smaller cities such as Jaipur, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, and Ahmedabad are rapidly emerging as significant contributors.
The report projects that Tier II and Tier III cities will account for 35-40 percent of the 7.29 million jobs by FY28, driven by growth in sustainable agriculture, logistics, and warehousing.
The diversity of green job roles is also expanding rapidly. There’s a projected 20–30 percent yearly rise in demand for professionals in areas such as ESG (environmental, social, and governance) analytics, climate data analysis, and green technology.
The NLB Services report also serves as a comprehensive assessment of India’s readiness to implement policies promoting green jobs and facilitating a just transition to a green economy. It underscores the critical need for coherent policy frameworks across various sectors to achieve sustainable development.
The report complements an ILO report titled “Assessment of India’s Green Jobs and Just Transition Policy Readiness that assessed India’s readiness for implementing policies that promote green jobs and facilitate a just transition to a green economy.
India’s green jobs policy readiness:
Definition and scope: While green jobs are defined as decent jobs contributing positively to the environment, there remains a lack of clear, comprehensive definitions and understanding of their full scope across different ministries.
Policy gaps: The report identifies gaps such as the need for clearer definitions of green jobs and just transition, better support for green enterprises, and enhanced skilling policies. Recommendations include establishing a national coordination body for green jobs and strengthening tripartite dialogue.
Investment: Public investment in green sectors is increasing, but current green finance only meets 25% of what is needed to achieve India’s climate commitments by 2030. Coal subsidies also remain significantly higher than those for renewable energy.
Skills development: The Skills Council for Green Jobs is actively working on skilling initiatives, but there’s a call for stronger industry collaborations and greater awareness of green job opportunities.
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH): While OSH policies exist, specific strategies for regions affected by climate change and targeted training in emerging green sectors are needed.
Social protection: Social protection measures for workers affected by the green transition, particularly in informal sectors, need to be strengthened, with a focus on compensation, reskilling, and re-employment opportunities.
Policy coordination and social dialogue: The report emphasizes the absence of a dedicated coordination body for green jobs and inadequate involvement of trade unions and workers’ organizations in green policy planning, advocating for stronger tripartite dialogue.
Just transition: A clear definition of just transition is largely absent in policy documents, though discussions are ongoing, particularly in the coal sector. The report stresses the importance of ensuring a fair and inclusive shift to a green economy, providing pathways for workers in declining sectors.
The Green shift: A necessity and an opportunity
India’s rapid economic growth and burgeoning population necessitate a decisive shift towards green jobs to mitigate environmental impacts and foster sustainable development. The country faces significant environmental challenges, including being the third-largest global carbon emitter and highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Despite these challenges, India holds immense potential for a green-led economic recovery. The government has set ambitious targets, including achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070. The renewable energy sector alone is projected to employ 1 million people by 2030.
The report also highlights the need for robust institutional mechanisms for policy coordination, emphasizing the role of government officials, trade unions, technical experts, and UN agencies in shaping India’s green future. The establishment of a knowledge-sharing platform and an annual Green Jobs Conference are also recommended to foster best practices and collaboration.
As India marches towards becoming the world’s most populous country by 2025, the commitment to a green economy and the creation of millions of green jobs signify a pivotal step towards a sustainable and prosperous future.
