Green Skills for Sustainable Organisations: Examining the Influence of Sustainability Focused Learning and Development on ESG Performance, ProEnvironmental Behaviour and Employee Retention

Abstract

Sustainability has increasingly become an integral component of strategy, creating a growing need for employees to develop the knowledge, competencies, and behavioural capabilities required to support environmental and social objectives. In this context, sustainability-focused Learning and Development (L&D) can function not only as a mechanism for developing green competencies but also as a strategic intervention for strengthening employee engagement, commitment, and retention. The present study examines the relationship between sustainability-oriented L&D, employee retention, pro-environmental behaviour (PEB), and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. The study is based on primary data collected from 65 employees using a structured questionnaire incorporating five-point Likert-scale measures. Sustainability training exposure was assessed through training participation and training hours, while employees' perceptions of ESG performance, pro-environmental behaviour, and retention-related outcomes were examined. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression techniques were employed to evaluate the relationships among the study variables. The regression results indicate a strong and statistically significant relationship between sustainability-focused training and ESG performance. The model explains 82.9% of the variance in ESG scores, with an F-statistic of 150.4 (p < 0.0001). Training participation is associated with an estimated 7.1-point increase in ESG score, while each additional hour of sustainability training is associated with an estimated 0.61-unit increase in ESG score, controlling for the other predictor. The findings suggest that sustainability-focused L&D can strengthen employees' capacity and willingness to engage in environmentally responsible workplace practices while reinforcing alignment with sustainability objectives. The study further highlights the potential of green skills development as a strategic HR intervention for building an engaged, future-ready, and sustainability-oriented workforce. The paper concludes that integrating