Cyprus: greening of the national economy – which skills and occupations will be in demand in 2030?

The Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus (HRDA), realising the extend and scope of change in the labour market from the transition to a green economy, carried out in late 2023 a study for the ‘Identification of green occupations and skill needs in the Cyprus economy 2024-2030’. The main findings of the study, which was completed in July 2024, can be summarised in six main points:

• employment in the green economy of Cyprus is expected to exhibit an upward trend. As a result, in 2030, almost 1 in 4 employed persons will be in economic sectors with participation in the green economy;
• total annual employment demand for the green economy is anticipated to account for nearly a quarter of total employment demand for the whole economy;
• the professional, scientific and technical activities sector will employ nearly 1 in 3 employed persons in the green economy. The information and communication sector is also expected to grow significantly, accounting for 1 in 6 green economy jobs by 2030;
• ‘professionals’ is the occupation category with the largest share of employment, with their number projected to increase by 16.2% during the period 2024-30. Second in size is the occupation category ‘craft and related trades workers’, which is expected to rise by 6.7% (see graph below);
• the ambitious Green Deal targets, the challenges arising from climate change and the goal to transition to a sustainable economic model amplify the need for up- and reskilling the workforce. It is essential to promote and increase the uptake of lifelong learning, whose share remains below the EU average;
• most of the green skills identified in the study are new skills that relate to new green technologies, environmental legislation and environmental issues. Additionally, a significant number of green skills are existing skills adapted to the needs of the green economy, such as project management, strategic planning, entrepreneurial skills and personnel management.

NB: Professionals (ISCO 2) according to the ESCO taxonomy http://data.europa.eu/esco/isco/C2. Source: HRDA, 2024.

The HRDA published the study results on its website along with an interactive tool  incorporating all available information on employment forecasts of the green occupations. These can be used by policy-makers for the development of strategies and policies in education, training and lifelong learning. They can also be helpful in the development of IVET and CVET training programmes.

To disseminate the study results further, several promotional actions were designed and implemented. An event was organised in September 2024 with the presence of the Minister for Labour and Social Insurance, representatives of more ministries, other stakeholders and journalists. 

A media campaign was designed and implemented to raise awareness, especially among young people, of green skills and occupations that will be in demand in the future. The findings of the study can be used to inform all main VET stakeholders (the national employment service, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, vocational training centres, Erasmus+ project beneficiaries, etc. The HRDA presented the study results to several vocational training centres. More events are scheduled in the coming months, including at the Cyprus University of Technology and a green transition conference.

Read more
Εντοπισμός αναγκών σε πράσινα επαγγέλματα και δεξιότητες στην κυπριακή οικονομία 2024-2030[Identification of green occupations and skill needs in the Cyprus economy 2024-2030]

HRDA’s interactive online tool on skill needs and occupations by 2030 (in Greek)