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 practically 7,000 jobs reduce in November alone.

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

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

For startups, 2023 was extra muddled. As traders closed their pocketbooks, founders needed to make arduous decisions about easy 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 a wide range 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. Almost each firm wants software program builders, undertaking managers and designers. Is there a necessity for 240,000 of them? In all probability not but. And a few that appear to be a detailed match may require a little bit of local weather or power information on the a part of the applicant.

In different phrases, there’s a expertise hole.