From Soft Skills to Green Skills: Redefining Employability in the Age of Sustainability

Pınar Sarp Hüseyin
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Pınar Sarp Hüseyin: Istanbul Kültür University

Business and Economics Research Journal, 2026, vol. 17, issue 2, 329-346

Abstract: This qualitative study examines the strategic role of green skills in the sustainability transformation of organisations. Based on in-depth interviews, the research reveals the views of different employees regarding green skills, examining how these competencies are integrated into organisational structures. By adopting a workforce perspective, the study highlights how green skills are developed in practice within professional environments and why they are becoming increasingly necessary. The findings show that green skills have evolved from basic environmental awareness into strategic capabilities that support organisational competitiveness and resilience. The analysis identifies six core themes: forecasting future skill disruptions, technical and solution-oriented skill demands, green skills as a tool for adaptation and transformation, integration into human resources strategy, social implications, and sustainability data analytics and information presentation. These themes provide a framework for understanding how green skills are interpreted and applied across organisational contexts. The study further indicates that green skills should be more systematically integrated into job design, training, and performance evaluation processes, supporting organisational workforce adaptation to sustainability-oriented models. In conclusion, the research demonstrates that green skills are not merely an environmental requirement but a key component of workforce strategies and the broader sustainability transformation.

Keywords: Green Skills; Sustainability Transformation; Workforce Adaptation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:buecrj:022579

DOI: 10.20409/berj.2026.500

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