Why ESG Jobs Are Disappearing (But Not Really)

For professionals looking to break into sustainability careers, there’s a growing frustration:

hiring managers are increasingly avoiding the term “ESG.” Even roles that clearly involve ESG-related work—like Scope 3 supply chain assessments or sustainability reporting—are being framed as anything but ESG.

A student of mine recently interviewed for a job in Scope 3 emissions calculations for supply chains, a role that is fundamentally about ESG compliance and climate impact. Yet, even during the hiring process, she was warned: “This is not an ESG job.”

Meanwhile, an intern of mine who was actively collecting data using a tailor-made ESG framework expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “I want to do something in ESG, not this.”

The irony? Both these roles are exactly what ESG is about.

The Shift Away from ESG Labels

So why are companies distancing themselves from the term “ESG” when hiring? The reasons are multi-faceted:

• Regulatory & Political Pressure – ESG has become a politically charged term, especially in markets like the U.S. Companies are rebranding roles to avoid backlash while still committing to sustainability initiatives under different names. Just this month companies like Google have rolled back their DEI initiatives and companies are actively distancing themselves from liberal agendas.

• ESG is Becoming a Core Business Function – Instead of standalone ESG departments, sustainability is being integrated into finance, risk, procurement, legal, and compliance teams. This means ESG-related skills are in high demand—but the job titles won’t always reflect that. so what you need to do is gain expertise in specific job functions like carbon footprint calculations, LCA, different frameworks.
• Focus on Specific Expertise – Rather than hiring general “ESG professionals,” companies want specialists in climate risk modeling, lifecycle assessments, CSRD compliance, supply chain sustainability, or impact investing.

The Misconception: “This is Not ESG”

Many early-career professionals still associate ESG with broad sustainability strategy roles. But the reality is that ESG is a framework, not a job title.

If you’re doing:

Supply chain due diligence → You’re in ESG

Carbon footprint calculations → You’re in ESG

EU taxonomy compliance → You’re in ESG

Corporate sustainability reporting → You’re in ESG

Sustainable finance risk assessments → You’re in ESG

Many of the fastest-growing roles in the sustainability space do not explicitly use “ESG” in the title. Instead, they appear under:

• Sustainability & Climate Risk (e.g., Climate Risk Analyst, Net-Zero Strategy Lead)
• Sustainable Supply Chains (e.g., Scope 3 Analyst, Responsible Procurement Specialist)
• Sustainability Reporting & Compliance (e.g., CSRD/GRI/ISSB Reporting Lead)
• Sustainable Finance (e.g., Responsible Investment Analyst, Climate Finance Manager)
• Corporate Governance & Risk (e.g., Due Diligence Specialist, Regulatory Compliance)

Advice for Job Seekers in ESG & Sustainability

Stop Looking for “ESG” Job Titles – Instead, focus on the specific skills and impact areas of the role. If it involves climate, supply chain, compliance, or finance with a sustainability lens, it’s part of ESG.

Learn the Right Skills – Employers want candidates with expertise in GHG accounting, sustainability reporting frameworks, ESG data analytics, risk assessment, and compliance. If you can quantify impact, you’re ahead.

Follow the Money – Companies are heavily investing in Scope 3 calculations, CSRD compliance, biodiversity assessments, and sustainable finance. These areas have strong job prospects, even if the titles don’t say “ESG.”

The ESG job market isn’t shrinking—it’s maturing. Companies are embedding sustainability across business functions rather than treating it as a separate category. The opportunities are more diverse than ever, but professionals need to adapt to the new language of sustainability hiring.

So, next time someone says, “This is not an ESG job,” know that the work is still ESG—it’s just not labeled that way anymore.

Would love to hear your experiences—are you seeing this shift in hiring too?