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In past decades, a growing body of research has identified sustainability competencies as a pivotal element in the process of sustainability transition. However, the topic is mainly discussed in the educational field, and few studies have investigated it in the workplaces. The aim of this study is to identify sustainability competencies required in the workplaces. Based on PRISMA guidelines, this study synthesises findings from 23 articles between 2011 and 2025, using the following databases: ERIC, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost. The findings show that key competencies in higher education, such as systems thinking, values thinking, anticipatory thinking, strategic thinking, and interpersonal competency, are still prevalent in the workplaces. Furthermore, four additional competencies are identified in the workplaces: leadership competency, political competency, entrepreneurial competency, and connection-to-nature competency. In the end, a conceptual model integrating all the identified competencies is proposed. This model aligns work-related sustainability competencies with those cultivated in academic programs, thereby bridging the gap between education and work practices. This may become a valuable reference for the development of curricula, the design of sustainability training programs, and the instructions of policymakers.
Fu et al. (2026) studied this question.