Climate tech might be the hot job market in 2024

One of many main tales that outlined the tech sector in 2023 was layoffs. Firms massive and small shed over 240,000 jobs within the final yr, and whereas the pattern has cooled of late, it hasn’t stopped, with almost 7,000 jobs reduce in November alone.

However there have been vivid spots. Local weather tech is one sector that has been hiring, and 2024 appears to be like like it will likely be persevering with the pattern.

Clear power jobs have grown 10% up to now two years, outpacing the economic system as a complete, in response to a report by business group E2. By means of 2032, when the Inflation Discount Act is about to run out, the fastest-growing job fields embrace wind turbine technician (45% progress) and photo voltaic photovoltaic installer (22% progress), in response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For startups, 2023 was extra muddled. As traders closed their pocketbooks, founders needed to make laborious selections about methods to lengthen their runways. Some needed to resort to layoffs, however not everybody. Many founders I’ve spoken with proceed to emphasise that they’re hiring for quite a lot of roles.

For these laid off from the final tech sector, local weather tech would seem like an interesting pivot, and for a lot of, that’s proving to be true. Practically each firm wants software program builders, venture managers and designers. Is there a necessity for 240,000 of them? In all probability not but. And a few that appear like a detailed match would possibly require a little bit of local weather or power data on the a part of the applicant.

In different phrases, there’s a abilities hole.