In the ever-changing world, it has become increasingly difficult to choose a study field and profession. If you talk to anyone that has been in this position, they will tell you the struggles of deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life. Sure, you can change your profession anytime you like, but that doesn’t make it easier to decide what you want to do for at least the next three years of your life. Luckily, with the opportunities that you have today, you can perform research to discover your interests, and not go head first into it without being informed.
As business evolves, we have seen the effect that sustainability has on it, and we are also aware of the importance of a career that is in sympathy with our values and doesn’t conflict with them. Our planet’s future depends on a sustainable climate, and our businesses financial stability depends on the organization’s sustainability. So in general, sustainability has become a necessity, and not simply a competitive advantage.
The concept of sustainability arose in the 1970s but it wasn’t until later that it was considered a career opportunity.
Climate change and the latest natural disasters are the main reasons that sustainability even became something that businesses considered. The climate, and the fact that we were using our resources uncontrollably demanded that we change our lifestyle and the impact that we were having on the earth.
This translated immediately into the way people live and brought a trend of living minimally and waste-free, which increased the demand for products that cater to such a requirement.
Businesses automatically started using sustainability as an opportunity and started to form an increasing number of industries revolving around the concept. Today, sustainability is something businesses use as a competitive advantage, but that is not all. They have developed shared values for both society and businesses. The careers with the most jobs in sustainability are in science, management, tourism, engineering, and law.
However, it seems that sustainability branch is growing towards open waters. Increasingly, industries are embracing it and are offering jobs in sustainability, which raises the need for more individuals with a degree in sustainability, and also affects the wages in this field.
From the job market changes to social responsibility, there are many reasons to study sustainability:
1. Fast-growing job sector
With the choice of a degree, comes the pressure of choosing the right one. Everyone looks for a career that will fulfill their needs and satisfy them personally.
But that is not the only obstacle. Another concern is whether the study field will support you financially. Luckily, sustainability degrees are like wine, they get better with time. The job market is growing, and the professions are improving. This comes as an effect of the need to complement the market’s demands.
2. Make a difference in social and environmental issues
One of the issues with a lack of job satisfaction is the fact that people don’t feel that they are doing something meaningful. Their career choices lead them to an unmotivated work life and eventually an unhappy life.
An advantage of the sustainability study field is the fact that it is an impactful career choice. Depending on the specific program and/or industry there are a lot of things that will make you feel like you are doing something meaningful and giving back.
3. It’s an emotionally and financially rewarding career
This ties in with everything that we have discussed up to this point. The emotional factor comes with the involvement in the social and environmental issues, and the financial one is related to the fast-growing job market. These two combined, form the baseline of a successful and happy life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wages in across various sustainability careers is $166,910.
4. You could upgrade to high management levels
Sustainability is becoming more and more important in organizations. What started as an adaptation to serve the market and its demands, has become a separate and very important part of every business. There are businesses whose entire activity is related to sustainability. Hence it becomes relatively easy to be promoted to higher levels of management. Many companies require that their C level executives have an education related to sustainability, or at least have some sort of experience in that field.
5. See the world and enjoy the great outdoors
Studying sustainability is a very exciting process. Many people don’t want the traditional 9 to 5 job and don’t like to be stuck in an office. Many sustainability degrees allow you to work outside and enjoy the nature while gaining a better understanding of the world around you. If this appeals to you, then sustainability is exactly what you should study.
6. Differentiate yourself
The job market is not only growing, but also requires expertise and specialization within various fields of study. Since sustainability is a new concept and an even newer field of study, it is very easy to differentiate yourself and acquire a unique education that will serve you well in the future. Sustainability allows you to create a unique career that is very much required in the job market.
7. Something for everyone
Sustainability extends into multiple fields of study. When you’re studying sustainability, you have the opportunity to explore many things, but you can also study several aspects of sustainability. It seems as though anything and everything can be sustainable, and that is the case. Sustainability is extending and overtaking the food and beverages industry, as well as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, transportation, and finance.
We have heard a lot about sustainable business and its advantages, but not enough about studying sustainability. When business grows, so does the job market. The world is ready for new sustainable workers and leaders. It needs people that are well prepared and have the right degrees, in order to solve its sustainability problems.
Along with the growing businesses around sustainability have also appeared new and exciting career opportunities. In addition, there are now various degrees that complement them. Since this is also a very recent career opportunity, it means that too few people are involved in it, which means a greater opportunity for you. In the future, every job will require some knowledge of sustainability, so why not be prepared and be one of the first people to study it?