Where the Jobs are... , PCDN Impact Weekly Newsletter, June 9, 2025

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Here’s the updated version with those growing areas added back in—AI safety, governance, ethics, implementation, climate tech, edtech, and more—woven into a clear, honest narrative without falling into AI-style phrasing. It also keeps the focus on global context, uncertainty, and practical support through the PCDN Career Campus.

2025: A Hard Year for Impact Work—Everywhere

From Nairobi to New York, Delhi to São Paulo, people working for social and environmental change are facing one of the toughest job markets in recent memory.

It’s not just about layoffs. It’s about stalled careers, exhaustion, and watching funding collapse without warning. For many, the question is no longer how to find a dream job. It’s whether they can find a decent enough job that offers stability, purpose—or at least doesn’t make things worse.

In the U.S., the USAID “stop-work” order triggered over 19,000 domestic layoffs and 233,000 globally. The nonprofit sector lost over 14,000 jobs in just three months. Tech layoffs have already topped 83,000 this year.

Behind the numbers are people—some applying for corporate roles they never imagined doing, others juggling multiple freelance gigs, and many simply trying to hang on.

Some sectors are shrinking fast. Others are hiring—but not always equitably.

There are areas of momentum. But access is uneven.

• AI Safety, Governance & Ethics – Demand is rising for professionals who can help steer the responsible use of AI across sectors. LinkedIn data shows 350% growth in AI-related roles since 2023, with a big push for people working on accountability, fairness, and risk mitigation.

• AI Implementation – There’s still strong hiring for those who can build or apply AI tools in education, public health, and social finance—especially roles that combine technical and policy skills.

• Climate Tech – The EU’s Clean Industrial Deal is expected to generate 500,000 jobs by 2027. Opportunities are also emerging in mini-grid deployment, adaptation, and nature-based solutions in regions like East Africa and Southeast Asia.

• EdTech & Learning Innovation – With the shift toward online and hybrid learning continuing, educators and technologists are building tools for access, upskilling, and re-skilling—especially in low-connectivity contexts.

Other areas seeing some growth include digital rights and civic tech, mission-driven startups, and ESG and impact investing (though even these are navigating headwinds).

Emerging Job Titles to Watch

The next wave of impact careers includes innovative roles that didn't exist five years ago:

• Climate Data Scientist: Analyzing datasets to study climate patterns and forecast environmental changes

• Fintech Engineer: Developing digital finance solutions for financial inclusion

• AI Solutions Architect: Designing AI systems for sustainability applications

• Renewable Energy Analyst: Optimizing clean energy systems and infrastructure

• Circular Economy Analyst: Developing waste reduction and resource optimization strategies

• Environmental Data Scientist: Using big data for environmental monitoring and protection

🎯 Where to Find These Opportunities

Your job search strategy should include these key platforms:

• PCDN Career Campus - Your GPS for impact careers with curated opportunities and community support

• jobs.pcdn.global - Meta-list of 500k+ viewed social impact job resources

• EdTech-specific boards: EdSkip, EdTechJobs.io, and EdSurge Jobs

• Rippleworks Job Board - Social ventures with competitive compensation
  

Regional Opportunities to Watch

Different regions are emerging as leaders in specific impact areas:

• Southeast Asia: Fintech for financial inclusion and climate adaptation

• Africa: Mobile-first solutions and renewable energy access

• Latin America: Sustainable agriculture and urban innovation

• Europe: Regulatory innovation and circular economy solutions

• North America: AI ethics and climate technology scaling

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

The search is taking longer for many. It’s frustrating, demoralizing, and often isolating. But there are spaces where people are showing up for each other—not just with job leads, but with advice, introductions, and support.

The PCDN Career Campus or the PCDN Career Digest can possibly help

• 300+ vetted opportunities from across sectors and geographies (For Career Digest Members get 200 + opps a month in your inbox)

• A growing network of peers navigating the same uncertainty

• Weekly office hours where you can ask anything—from how to write a better application to deciding if you should take that contract

• Workshops and career sessions led by seasoned professionals and impact practitioners

• A space to be real about the ups and downs of this work

Social Impact Opportunities

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