Green Job Demand Up 48%, Led by Gen Z; Smaller Cities Outpace Metro Growth: WeNaturalists

India’s green economy is undergoing a shift, marked by a 48% year-on-year (YoY) surge in green job interest, especially from Tier 2 and 3 cities, according to a new report by WeNaturalists, which describes itself as a global platform for climate and nature professionals. The report claims that Gen Z led this shift, composing 63% of green job seekers aged between 21 and 30. Another 24% fall in the 31-40 age group, highlighting a meaningful pivot from mid-career professionals towards the sector, the report added. Moreover, the recent trend indicated that green careers, which were once niche, are now a mainstream career path, especially in non-metro India, where climate awareness meets livelihood aspirations.

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The report also maps the fastest-growing green skill areas in India for 2025. These include renewable energy engineering, solar energy systems, electric vehicle (EV) technology, waste management, sustainability consulting, ESG analytics, climate data science, carbon management, green construction, and hydrogen energy research. The most demanding areas are renewable energy, solar, and EV roles.  Digital domains like AI, IoT, GIS, and carbon tracking are also growing fast. Employers across industries are now prioritizing practical skills, certifications, and field experience over traditional academic degrees, making green upskilling a critical part of long-term career growth in this space.

Which Regions Are Seeing a Rise in Green Job Seekers?

WeNaturalists said, "While metros such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Delhi NCR, and Kolkata continue to lead in green job listings and applicant volume, states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Delhi NCR have emerged as the most active green career ecosystems. Their momentum is powered by startup networks, supported by policy frameworks, and growing public awareness about sustainability. However, the most notable acceleration is being seen in Tier 2 and 3 cities such as Indore, Ranchi, Kochi, Jaipur, Surat, Coimbatore, Thrissur, and Lucknow. These smaller cities have collectively seen a 50% year-on-year (YoY) rise in green job activity, outpacing the 12–19% growth seen in metro areas. As a result, they now account for 35% of India’s green job seeker base, a sharp increase from just 25% three years ago."

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Amit Banka, Founder & CEO of WeNaturalists, said, "Climate action is no longer limited to volunteering or weekend campaigns. It’s evolving into a serious, structured career path. India now has the opportunity to build a truly inclusive green workforce, one that’s not just urban or elite, but grounded in local realities, aspirations, and long-term impact."

Rising Climate Job Listings Rise 31% YoY 

"Supporting this momentum, the overall green job and internship market is seeing expansion. Climate job listings on the platform have increased by 31% year-on-year (YoY), growing from around 965 to 1,326 active opportunities. Structured internship roles have risen by 29%, with government and NGO-led programs offering stipends and real-world, impact-driven projects across both urban and rural regions. Regionally, metros continue to dominate in terms of volume, but cities like Indore, Jaipur, Ranchi, Coimbatore, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and Madurai are fast emerging as dynamic green career hubs. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh are also witnessing consistent engagement from both large cities and smaller towns, indicating a nationwide, grassroots-level shift toward sustainability-focused employment."

According to national projections by the World Economic Forum and NLB Services, "India’s green job demand is expected to rise by 11% in 2025." Talent preparedness, especially from non-metro geographies, is accelerating rapidly. The findings highlight the underlying need for greater investment in climate-focused skilling, policy support, and career infrastructure to prepare India’s workforce for the climate economy. It further supported that aligning career development with sustainability-linked roles could place India at the forefront of global climate leadership and green workforce innovation.