Addressing Challenges of Limited Employment Opportunities in Environmental Policy: The Case of Zimbabwe

Today’s environmental managers and policy makers are focused on pollution prevention, natural resource development or protection, and integration of environmental considerations into economic and social decision-making. In Zimbabwe, population and economic growth pressures are creating complex environmental problems that directly impact all aspects of human society. A lack of labor force in environmental policy has hindered efforts to protect and conserve the environment. Limited job opportunities and few job openings in environmental policy has discourage people from pursuing careers in this field. In Zimbabwe there is limited awareness about environmental issues and career opportunities which led to a shortage of skilled workers. Insufficient training and education and limited access to environmental management training and education programs has resulted in a shortage of qualified professionals. Sustainable Development Goals, are the cutting edge of environmental issues but have not been attained. It is recommended for Zimbabwe environmental policy to be incorporated and monitored in education, governance and democracy, poverty reduction, public health, security, and economic strategy along with traditional environmental fields of agriculture, natural resource management, pollution abatement and conservation.