Why is skills development important in unlocking the job potential of green economies?

The shift to a green economy and its associated change to more sustainable production and consumption patterns will profoundly change industrial activities and labour markets. The widespread introduction of cleaner technologies and the promotion of eco-innovation in industrial processes, for example, have already begun to impact the nature of work, demanding new skills. Workers are increasingly asked to adapt to new techniques and meet new environmental regulations.

In this perspective, skills development is crucial to unlock the job potential of the green economy to provide industries with the required labour-force and protect employability as economies go greener. Indeed, the development of skills for green jobs is crucial to not only foster the transition by matching supply and demand for skills, but also in assisting workers to adjust to rapidly changing workplaces. Apart from being a response to changes, green skills development can also be a potential driver for change that helps accelerating the green transformation.