2025 EARLY CAREER SURVEY REPORT
Environment Analyst’s Early Careers Advisory Board launched its third annual Early Career Survey in November 2024, which asked young professionals who had worked in the sector for up to six years about their job satisfaction, entry route into the sector, salary expectations and more.
The findings reveal job satisfaction is high, with 70% of respondents noting they're satisfied or very satisfied. Nevertheless, the sector still lags the national average in terms of ethnic diversity.
HOW LIKELY ARE YOU TO RECOMMEND THE SECTOR?
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT E&S CONSULTING?
HEADLINE FINDINGS
Job satisfaction is high with 70% satisfied or very satisfied. Flexible working and salary were the top contributing factors.
Diversity is still an issue, with 87% identifying as white, which is higher than the national average
60% of respondents were not aware of the sector prior to studying in higher education.
Chartership support was the most requested type of help for career development
22% of respondents studied subjects outside of the expected range of
environmental disciplines
73% listed net zero commitments
as the most important company
sustainability initiative to them
Salary was the main reason respondents
would leave their current role
Disparities between gender and salary
expectations exist at higher salary bands
THE SURVEY AIMS TO
Help the E&S sector understand how to attract and retain the next generation of talent
Provide a platform for early career professionals in the sector to be heard
Highlight changes from previous surveys
Help formulate recommendations for business leaders and HR teams in the sector to apply
2024 REPORT
Environment Analyst’s Early Careers Advisory Board launched its second Early Career Survey ran in 2023, with the findings published in 2024.
The survey highlighted five overarching concerns shaping respondents’ experiences and career development, namely: diversity and inclusion; career support; salary; working arrangements; and sustainability.
Environment Analyst’s 2022 Early Career Survey saw 370 early career professionals (ECPs) share their thoughts on sector entry routes, job satisfaction, retention and more.
The surveyfound that ECPs were positive about working in the sector, and that role variation, international work and a sense of purpose were critical determinants of job satisfaction. However, the results flagged sub-optimal performance in the areas of sector diversity, salaries, and early engagement when compared to other professional service sectors.