Disruptive developments, millions of new jobs and sought-after profiles

Dhe world of work will become even more dynamic as a result of digitalisation, globalisation and rapid technological change. Professionals must train in such a way that they can cope with change. In addition to technical skills, design skills will be increasingly in demand in the future. Tomorrow's managers must be able to think in scenarios, identify problems, develop strategies and innovate solutions, and implement them in a responsible manner.

Today, knowledge, people, culture and collaboration are the powerful forces not only of global business, but of every organization. Knowledge and competence are more important than money, matter and energy. Because knowledge, ingenuity and innovation can overcome bottlenecks of money, matter and energy. The really significant bottleneck of the future is the inability to generate knowledge and competence. In view of the finite reserves of oil, numerous raw materials, water, many basic foodstuffs and energy, this statement becomes even more explosive.

Growth markets with new jobs
Developments in the global cleantech markets are impressive. Costa Rica, for example, is relying on 100 % of renewable energy for its electricity supply, Morocco is planning the world's largest solar power plant, which will supply one million people with electricity, and Scandinavia wants to say goodbye to oil heating. Accordingly, new professions such as sustainable investment advisor, recyclist, ranger or mobility manager have also emerged or are emerging in our country. The United Nations estimates the future potential of environment-related jobs worldwide at 5 to 10 million in sustainable construction, the energy and mobility sector, industry, forestry and agriculture, and the food sector. Some 160,000 people are already employed in the wider environmental market in Switzerland. WWF Switzerland believes that Switzerland has the potential to create tens of thousands of new jobs. The largest increase is expected in the construction and energy sectors, but the food industry and mobility, as well as environmental service providers, are also increasingly dependent on competent specialists. Changing consumer needs, climate change, urbanization and the growth of emerging markets are driving these developments. The corresponding competencies are increasingly in demand and also strongly rewarded. The times are over when it was a matter of deciding whether to work on one's professional career and earn money or to pursue meaningful work. Jobs related to the environment and sustainable development can offer both.

Career and sense of purpose
Many people spend more time at work than in their social environment or with their hobbies. The workplace is a place where people leave their mark, make an impact, want to help shape the future, where they find meaning in their work, and where they receive recognition for it. For more and more people today, a career is not just about climbing hierarchical rungs, but about acquiring skills, developing as a personality and making the best possible use of one's own abilities. Those who acquire the skills that will be in demand in the future for jobs in the environmental and sustainability sector are smart. The skills that are in demand always depend on the current needs of society. In the 1980s, cantonal offices and consultants were in demand for skills in the implementation of environmental legislation in the field of technical environmental protection. In the 1990s, the private sector purchased competencies in environmental management. Today, as every economic or social activity is affected by the paradigm of sustainable development, a wide range of technical, methodological, social and personal skills are in demand. What is needed are people who can identify problems relevant to sustainability in unpredictable situations, innovate solutions in a participatory manner and implement them in a responsible manner. New business models are also in demand.

From the profile of the Salvation Army of species protection to the shaper of social change
Environment is now integrated into higher-level management systems in companies. The element of environment in the company, once a batch which represented a particular interest, which was seen as a cost factor and as an obstructive, polarising force, which was best delegated to a technical specialist unit, this element has become in the company the problem-solving, success-seeking, cooperating, negotiating, strategic force of top management. Accordingly, the profile of sought-after employees has radically changed from the once conservative, rigid, ideological, dogmatic, cynical, closed-minded, lecturing member of the Salvation Army of species protection to the visionary, innovative, flexible, pragmatic, philanthropic, cooperative, professional communicative and empathetic person with sound technical, methodological and social competences in the ecological, economic and social fields.

Planning, setting up, maintaining and auditing environmental management systems, for example, require competencies in environmental law, environmental management, a sound environmental knowledge and a great deal of operational environmental experience. Competencies in general management and corporate governance are just as much a part of this as key qualifications in the methodological and communicative fields. It goes without saying that such profiles do not simply emerge within the framework of further education, but are products of a solid basic education with rich industry practice, targeted supplementary further education and on-the-job learning.

Orientation in the rich but confusing educational offer
Today's educational landscape offers a wide range of courses for the acquisition of these competences, comprising around 300 courses. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the range of courses on offer in the environmental sector. Tens of new training and continuing education courses have come onto the market in recent years. There has been a change from further education in special topics to sustainability education for fields of action, e.g. construction, energy management, social management, mobility. There has been a sharp increase in the number of in-service training courses on offer. More training courses offer Bachelor's or Master's degrees. These are supplemented by many CAS, MAS and short courses in sustainable construction, urbanism, mobility, social management, tourism and finance. Their admission requirements are becoming more permeable. And more educational offerings are also aimed at interested parties with non-academic backgrounds. In this way, the education landscape is responding quickly to changes in the market, in demographics and in lifestyles.

Those who continue their education invest not only money, but above all time.
Care should be taken when choosing the appropriate training. Further training requires a large investment of money and - something that is often given too little attention - time. Wrongly invested money hurts, but can be replaced again. The time invested in education can never be recovered. Criteria of choice are therefore, apart from the content, the methodology and the quality, the required previous education, the duration, the costs, the location and others. The careful selection includes in particular the question: "How well does an education or training prepare for the respective practical requirements, not only in terms of knowledge, but also in terms of implementation skills and personal key qualifications?"

Personal contact with the institutions and with former graduates or attendance at individual courses allows additional conclusions to be drawn. Of course, the services of vocational or career counsellors can also help. For a more in-depth examination of questions of personal goal, the possibilities of the labour market and suitable educational courses, personal educational counselling is an option.