A new report by Economist Impact has challenged the notion that sustainability is primarily a concern for younger professionals, noting that senior executives actively seek employers with strong ESG reputations.
The study, Transitioning to Sustainability: Employee Perspectives on Workplace Practices, which was supported by Kyocera Document Solutions, surveyed both junior and senior executives in London, New York, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo, and found that more than two fifths (41%) of senior executives consider an employer’s ESG reputation when job-hunting, compared to only 24% of junior employees.
Additionally, some 43% of senior executives said that they would be willing to accept a lower salary when working for a company with strong ESG commitments, an opinion shared by 18% of junior employees.
Educating the workforce
The study also found that both groups agree on the importance of educating workers about sustainability, with 80% of senior executives and 81% of junior employees stating that education in this area is crucial if businesses are to meet their workplace goals by 2030.
They also see investor relations, productivity gains, and net-zero objectives as key drivers of sustainability efforts in the next 12 to 18 months.
While senior executives are largely seen as the ones driving ESG strategies, close to half (47%) of junior employees cite weak leadership engagement as a major barrier to sustainability initiatives, particularly when it comes to social sustainability.
For example, while 45% of senior executives believe their company upholds human rights standards, only 36% of junior employees – who often work more closely with supply chain partners – share this confidence.
‘Operational realities’
“Corporate sustainability cannot succeed as a top-down directive alone,” commented Jonathan Birdwell, head of policy and insights, Economist Impact. “While senior executives set ESG strategies, junior employees are closest to operational realities and often hold the insights needed for effective implementation.
“Companies that engage employees at all levels—by embedding sustainability into job performance, fostering collaboration, and creating opportunities for bottom-up initiatives—will be better positioned to drive meaningful, lasting change.”
The Transitioning to Sustainability: Employee Perspectives on Workplace Practices study surveyed 630 professionals across London, New York, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo, and was conducted in September and October 2024. Respondents were evenly split between senior executives and junior employees. Read more here.
Economist Impact’s 10th anniversary Sustainability Week, incorporating the Energy Transition Summit, takes place in London next week. More details can be found here.
