According to career services and recruiting firm Alt Protein Careers, there has been a significant increase in the number of workers who are “climate quitting” — leaving their jobs to find positions where they can make a meaningful positive impact on the planet.
The phenomenon is said to be particularly prevalent among younger demographics, with KPMG figures indicating that a third of 18-24-year-olds have turned down job offers due to a company’s ESG performance. Furthermore, research commissioned by Paul Polman (the former CEO of Unilever) indicates that 76% of job-seekers want to work for companies that have a positive impact, while over a third have left a job that was not aligned with their values.
Working in alt proteins
While many professionals are opting for careers in renewable energy or climate science, another option gaining in popularity is to work in alternative proteins. To cater to this demand, Alt Protein Careers has launched a job board and resource center to help job-seekers find high-impact roles.
Additionally, the organization is launching a new podcast series and is set to host job fairs at several events and locations. These include SF Climate Week, the Future Food Tech Conference, and universities such as Duke, Harvard, and Stanford.
Job openings increase
Last year, it was reported that the number of jobs available in the plant-based industry was on the rise, with a 32% increase in the number of listings advertised from April to July compared to the previous three months. Separate figures published last year found that the alternative protein industry could create 25,000 jobs in the UK alone by 2035, while yet another report found that investing in alternative proteins could support millions of jobs globally.
“There wasn’t always this level of awareness of how fundamental alternative protein solutions are to solving the climate crisis. People used to think that if they didn’t have a degree in Renewable Energy or Climate Science, there was no way to meaningfully contribute. But that’s no longer the case,” says Noga Golan, founder and Managing Director at Alt Protein Careers.
