Environment and labour force skills: Overview of the links between the skills profile of the labour force and environmental factors

The European Union and its Member States are committed to protecting the environment and to developing a sustainable, low-carbon economy with more green jobs.

According to the study, Environment and Labour Force Skills, about 21 million jobs in Europe are linked to the environment in some way. But as Europe seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions and develop new clean technologies, a lot more people could find themselves picking up a green pay check.

This research gives an overview of:

• the employment in eco-industries
• the skills profiles of employees within eco-industries
• the direction of structural employment in the sector
• the current status and likely future trend of the demand for high and low skilled workers in the eco-industries
•  the success of environmental schemes in terms of creating employment for both low skilled as well as high skilled workers
• evidence to suggest that environmental improvements have been made as result of an increase in the skills and competencies of a (re-)trained labour force
•  the degree to which life-long learning activities are pursued by environmental employees in comparison to other sectors
• how likely it is that environmental skills and qualifications will become a normal attribute of employees regardless of the sector of employment (mainstreaming)