ESG (Environment - Society - Governance) has been widely recognized and adopted by businesses worldwide. Yet, it remains an ambiguous concept for many local workers in Vietnam. In recent years, ESG has been transforming not only the businesses’ operations but also impacting their HR management and recruitment strategies. For young people who are just entering the labor market, what opportunities and challenges ESG brings to their career development?
Is ESG just about the environment?
It’s a common belief that ESG or sustainable or green jobs only appear in environment-related roles and industries. In fact, the definition of "green jobs" has been broaden and covers a wide variety of fields. "Any jobs that contribute to the sustainable development of the environment, society, and community- regardless of the industry - are considered green jobs." - Mr. Nguyen Xuan Son, Operation Manager for Staffing and Outsourcing Services, ManpowerGroup Vietnam shared during the workshop "Young Workforce for Sustainable Development in the Green Economy" on October 14th at Ton Duc Thang University (HCMC). This indicates that employment prospects in ESG are broad and diverse to any particular sector or role.
Gen Z will be at the forefront of the ESG employment trend
According to Industrials World of Work 2024 Outlook report of ManpowerGroup, 74% of employers globally are planning to hire for "green jobs" or "green skills" talents, which create opportunities for many workers. As Gen Z is expected to make up a third of the Vietnamese workforce by 2025, this young and dynamic generation will greatly benefit from this employment trend.
With 16+ years of experience in recruitment and human resources in Vietnam, Son said: "The Generation Z workforce possesses a strong personality. They are self-aware, express clear attitude toward matters, and now pay increasingly greater attention to social issues. This trait coincidentally aligns with the "G" in ESG (Self-Governance). Therefore, many businesses now take the preferences of all workforce generations - including young workers -into account when develop attractive recruitment strategies towards sustainability development”.
How to prepare for a career in ESG?
ESG employment trends not only require workers to change their mindsets about their careers but also to learn and improve their skills to satisfy the evolving demands of businesses. According to Son, there are two essential steps should be taken by candidates to secure their career in the greening world of work. The first one is Upskilling, which means developing skills relevant to the needs of businesses and society (e.g., creative thinking, proposal skills, critical thinking, resilience, and adaptability). The second one is Unskilling, which means selective learning and willingness to discard knowledge and skills that are no longer applicable.
“To keep up with market development and stay employable in the changing world of work, we all need to consider learning and upskilling a lifetime-journey. This is not only true to workers but also businesses. Leaders and HR managers need to stay updated on workforce trends and insights, designing flexible and efficient strategies to drive business growth,"said the ManpowerGroup Vietnam expert.
This activity is part of the Career Development Program by ManpowerGroup Vietnam and a part of our commitment to the strategic MOU with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs since 2008, as well as ManpowerGroup Global’s sustainability efforts.
