In the last year, recruitment agency Acre Resources has seen a 180% growth in the number of jobs relating to energy reduction and emissions management.

In the same period, green collar jobs in the environmental sector have increased by 20%, with the biggest rise being in specialist climate change jobs.

The company believes this trend will continue thanks to a combination of consumer pressure, , incoming legislation, the limited pool of candidates in the field and the unwillingness of companies to turn their backs on existing investment in their environment and CSR programmes.

Acre associate Ben Cartland told edie: “I think that compliance, coupled with the fact that corporate responsibility is seen as almost a necessity by business has meant that it is probably one of the things that is lower down on the agenda when it comes to budget cuts.

“A lot of organisations have already spent a lot of money [on CSR policies]. They now need people on the ground implementing those strategies.”

Acre is currently receiving several new enquiries a day from companies looking to recruit green collar workers.

Acre predicts this growth will continue in the future, even as other sectors start to feel the pinch.

Mr Cartland said: “While we might see a slight drop off at some point – although I don’t personally think we will – what we will find is that legislation will denote where recruitment will have to happen.”

Acre found that the average salary in the climate change sector is now £49,000 – a growth of 14% from last year – and the average salary in the environmental sector has grown 5% to £34,000 since 2007.

The number of climate change jobs has grown by nearly 200% in the last 12 months.

Its data also revealed that CSR professionals can now expect an average salary of £40,000-£60,000 with highest potential earnings standing at £120,000.

Kate Martin

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