New careers in the green transition

The European Union’s green transition represents a major economic transformation toward climate neutrality, driven by policies such as the European Green Deal and the Net Zero Industry Act. This shift combines environmental objectives with industrial strategy, energy security, and geopolitical resilience.

Large-scale public and private investments are accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, energy-efficient systems, and clean technologies, reshaping labour demand across sectors. The shift toward climate neutrality is creating a surge in demand for specialised clean-tech occupations.

Facts and findings

• Green investments amount to hundreds of billions of euros under EU funding frameworks and this massive investment is driving employment changes.
• 92% of EU firms are taking action to reduce emissions and 79% of firms report skills shortages as a barrier to investment.
• Several pivotal roles across the cleantech value chain were identified:
  • Engineers: Design engineers (for PV and HVAC) and energy engineers are crucial for translating climate goals into technically viable, efficient energy systems.
  • Installers & Technicians: HVAC and PV installers are essential for building decarbonisation. Commissioning technicians bridge the gap between installation and operation.
  • Maintenance professionals: Maintenance technicians, including specialised blade and wind turbine technicians, ensure the longevity and efficiency of installed systems.
  • Quality & security: Supplier Quality Engineers (SQEs) and Quality Assurance (QA) specialists safeguard product integrity. Cybersecurity architects are increasingly vital to protect digitalised and interconnected grid infrastructures

Key messages

• The shift to a climate-neutral economy is transforming labour demand, creating new roles and changing existing ones across the clean technology value chain.
• The success of the green transition in EU will depend not only on technology and investment, but on whether we can equip people with the right skills and ensure the transition is fair and inclusive for all.
• Many of emerging occupations are not yet fully captured in existing classifications, which makes it harder to anticipate and respond to changing labour market needs.
• Wages, working conditions, and career prospects in green jobs are critical for attracting workers and ensuring public support for the transition.

Policy pointers

The policy brief highlights six priority areas to support a just, efficient, and inclusive green transition:

• Use big data (e.g. online job ads) to track emerging green jobs in real time, regularly update occupational classifications to reflect new roles and map transferable skills across occupations.
• Invest in modern vocational training systems, updated curricula, and stronger industry partnerships to ensure workers gain practical, job-relevant clean tech skills.
• Focus on transferable skills between occupations and create clear, short reskilling pathways to help workers move into green jobs without full retraining.
• Promote flexible, modular learning systems with micro-credentials to make upskilling faster, more accessible, and better recognised across sectors.
• Develop regional transition strategies for fossil-fuel-dependent regions, linking training, investment, and job creation to support local communities.
• Integrate technical, digital, and environmental skills (e.g. data, AI, cybersecurity) into training to match the needs of increasingly complex clean energy systems.