The CEO of a resource website dedicated to recruitment in the green economy is expressing concern about how the Supreme Court ruling overturning affirmative action will impact the industry, urging businesses to continue making an effort to foster inclusive workplaces.

Joseph Boll is CEO of EcoCareers.org, an online jobs board and resource website for all jobs in sustainability. The organization seeks to connect employers, hiring managers and HR personnel in the green sector with jobseekers and the top talent in their respective industries.

“Diversity and inclusion are an important part of sustainable development,” he noted. “Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the environment and making sure we live, work and play in ways that don’t harm the Earth, but also about making sure everyone has equal access to opportunities.”

In the green sector, jobs have multiplied dramatically in just the past five years. The entire field is expected to employ around 100 million people by 2023. But it’s also a sector that has struggled with diversity. A study by the World Bank found that women make up only around a third of the workers in the green economy, and visible minorities have also typically been shut out of this lucrative industry. For this very reason, groups like the World Bank and Word In Black, an African-American media collaboration movement, have spoken out about the need for more support in helping the green economy to be more diverse.

EcoCareers.org noted that many marginalized groups already find it difficult to make a career for themselves in a field traditionally dominated by the majority. Without legislation in place to help employers be more intentional about fostering an inclusive workplace, such as what affirmative action originally intended to achieve, minority groups can struggle even more in this regard.

However, Boll encouraged forward-thinking businesses to still be intentional about fostering an inclusive workforce even without legislation to force their hand. Especially in the current labour climate, where a skills gap is making it difficult for companies to hire enough green workers, making an effort to hire minority workers can help sustainable businesses ensure they have enough human capital to achieve their goals. Jobseekers who may be part of a minority group should also not be discouraged by the Supreme Court ruling, and should continue taking advantage of the resources available to help them land their dream green job.

###

About EcoCareers
EcoCareers is designed to help hiring managers and businesses connect with jobseeking professionals for sustainable job roles. We are affiliated with Remote Worker (UK), Remote Worker (US), ClickJobs.io and Caribbean Employment Services Inc. For more information, visit https://www.ecocareers.org or contact [email protected].