Trellis: The Current State of Sustainability Employment
The world of corporate sustainability is undergoing a seismic shift. In the days where 'CSR' or 'community work' were the mots de jour, sustainability was viewed as a voluntary corporate initiative. Now, it has evolved into a highly regulated, compliance-driven function commanding significant investment and competitive compensation.
A new report from Trellis reveals how regulatory pressures are reshaping sustainability roles today, driving rapid team expansion and structural changes within organisations. Trellis reports that 74% of large corporations have increased the headcount in their sustainability teams within the past two years.
Trellis' study follows a report recently published by LinkedIn which analysed data from across its global network of employees and employers and shows an astronomical rise in the demand for green skills.
While this evolution brings unprecedented growth in salaries and opportunities, it also raises questions about whether increased regulation might stifle corporate ambition.
This transformation is further reflected in changing demographics, evolving work patterns, and a booming sustainability software market, painting a picture of a profession at a crucial turning point.
Trellis' 'The State of the Sustainability Profession' report suggests that the recent transformation in the sector is particularly evident in compensation, where sustainability leaders are commanding increasingly substantial packages.
Structural shifts in leadership
Yet this growth comes amid significant structural changes. The introduction of mandatory sustainability reporting requirements, including the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and California's climate disclosure legislation, has catalysed a shift in how organisations approach sustainability leadership.
"It looks like the dog caught the car," remarked one sustainability professional quoted in the report, highlighting the profession's long-standing advocacy for standardised metrics that has now materialised into stringent reporting requirements.
How compliance shapes industries
This regulatory environment is reshaping reporting lines, with twice as many sustainability teams now reporting to legal departments compared to two years ago. The emergence of new roles, such as ESG controllers - now present in more than half of Fortune 100 companies - reflects this evolution towards compliance-focused functions.
However, Dylan Siegler, Head of Sustainability at Universal Music Group, warns that these regulations might inadvertently act as a "throttling mechanism" for proactive companies. She notes that motivation is diminishing for sustainability "first movers" to set ambitious public goals or participate in voluntary disclosures over fears of legal accountability for missing targets.
Changing demographics and work patterns
The profession has seen dramatic demographic shifts since its emergence in the early 2000s. Women now comprise 64% of sustainability professionals, with female representation at the vice president level doubling from 31% in 2010 to 63% in 2024. However, diversity still remains a challenge, with 81% of professionals identifying as white.
The way sustainability teams operate is also evolving. Nearly two-thirds of professionals are expected to work hybrid schedules, with senior roles typically requiring more office presence. The higher the position, the more time in the office: 17% of vice presidents are expected to be present full-time, compared to just 5% of managers.
The disparities in pay from region to region
Geographically, compensation for sustainability-adjacent jobs varies significantly. For example, sustainability vice presidents in California earn an average of US$365,667, almost US$100,000 more than their counterparts elsewhere in the western United States.
Similar disparities exist between New York (US$333,429) and other eastern states (US$286,167).
The introduction of sustainability software
The sustainability software market reflects the growth of sustainability professionalism. According to research firm Verdantix, the market value is projected to grow from US$905m in 2021 to US$4.34bn by 2027. This evolution underscores the increasing focus on data collection and reporting capabilities.
"The next two years may be a slog through software implementations and data assurance fire drills," notes the report. "The best in the sustainability profession will remain positive with the hope that comparability of their programme's performance distinguishes companies that have been investing in true progress from those that have barely done the minimum."
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