Skills for green jobs in Europe

Developing a low-carbon economy depends on improving existing skills rather than specialised green skills states the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, CEDEFOP. Clear evidence of the link between developing a low carbon economy and job creation is found in reactions to the economic crisis. Several Member States introduced economic stimulus packages in 2008-09 which included investment in energy efficiency and renewable-energy programmes. The European Economic Recovery Plan, launched in 2008, provided a fiscal stimulus of around EUR 200 billion to counter the economic downturn and focused investment on clean technologies and infrastructure. This theme has been carried over into the European Union’s (EU) new strategy for sustainable growth and jobs, Europe 2020, which puts innovation and green growth at the heart of its blueprint for competitiveness.

Cedefop’s study Skills for green jobs, (part of a broader study carried out with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), looks at the skills needed to develop a low-carbon economy in six Member States (Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Spain, France and the UK). The study shows that the boundaries between what is and is not low-carbon work are becoming increasingly blurred. The perception of whether a job is a new green one or an existing one with new elements differs between the six Member States. For example, an energy auditor in Estonia may be considered a new green occupation. However, in Germany, it can be seen as a change in the competences of an auditor, which is a long established occupation.

Although upskilling appears more effective than developing new green skills, some sectors will require significant investment in skills, because of the scale of upskilling required. For example, energy efficiency and construction of zero-carbon homes are heavily driven by national legislation. Concern over the construction industry’s capacity to meet low-carbon requirements with its existing workforce is based more on the number of workers that need to be upskilled – even though the new skills required are not especially complicated.

The briefing note is available in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian by clicking here