Emerging environmental industries: Impact on required skills and TVET systems

The global urgency for green growth and mitigation of climate change has resulted in the need for a labor force with skill sets necessary for establishing and sustaining new environmental industries, services, and practices. This emerging labor market requires technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems and skills development programs to respond. Occupations and industries such as water and wastewater, renewable energy, green buildings, and waste management all have new skills needs that TVET providers need to plan and cater for. This article analyzes recent trends in Hong Kong, China; India; and Malaysia where government policies in the last two decades have paved the way for the rapid development of industries and services that contribute to the greening of their economies, resulting in new employment opportunities for young people and new skills requirements. It analyzes how these are being met, and reports on some effective responses by governments and TVET providers. Finally, it suggests an evidence-based, holistic framework to support the development of road maps relevant to different contexts that extend beyond TVET to all levels of education, and which involves close partnerships between governments, industry, civil society, and education. Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.