The race to achieve climate neutrality will significantly reshape the European labour market, impacting employment and skill requirements across sectors. To maintain a leading position in this race, Europe needs a skilled workforce that can maximise the synergies between the green and digital transitions and support the development and implementation of net-zero technologies across sectors. Fostering a just transition will require addressing growing labour shortages in sectors vital to the twin transition while mitigating unemployment in declining carbon-intensive sectors.

Acknowledging this challenge, the Digital4Sustainability project has emerged from the Digital Large-Scale Partnership under the Pact for Skills to boost skills for the twin transition. Funded under the Erasmus+ program, the project will focus on re-skilling and up-skilling the European workforce, developing a strategy and educational programmes aligned with evolving labour market needs.

The launch meeting of the Digital4Sustainability project hosted a public panel discussion to explore the implications of the twin transition on the labour market. The event took place on 6 March 2024, from 15:30 to 16:45 CET, at Comet Meetings – Louise (Place Stéphanie 20, 1050 Brussels) and online.

This discussion examined emerging roles in the sustainable ICT sector and the European industry and delved into strategies for addressing workforce upskilling and reskilling. By bringing together the Digital4Sustainability consortium and representatives of institutions developing skills policies and recommendations, this discussion ensured a cohesive approach from the start of the project.

• Francesca Borgonovi, PhD, Head of Skills Analysis, OECD Centre for Skills
• Joachim Schwerin, PhD, Principal Economist, DG GROW, European Commission
• Ilias Iakovidis, PhD, Adviser for Digital Aspects of Green Transformation, DG CONNECT, European Commission
• Déborah Goll, Coordinator of the Digital4Sustainability project, European DIGITAL SME Alliance

The panel was moderated by Antonio Grasso, Public Affairs Director, European DIGITAL SME Alliance

The Digital4Sustainability project, funded under the Erasmus+ Programme, aims to accelerate the digital and green transition by equipping the European workforce with the needed set of skills. DIGITAL SME proudly joins forces on this strategic project with its members Skillnet Ireland, ClujIT, BASSCOM and CEFRIEL.

The project will develop an innovative Skills Strategy and training programmes to support 1) non-tech industries in adopting new technologies and 2) the ICT sector in creating digital solutions that reduce energy, carbon, and waste. The designed learning programmes will be driven by market and industry demand, addressing current and future needs. The project will particularly focus on supporting European companies, especially SMEs, in achieving long-term competitiveness and growth through digital and green transformation.

Led by the Digital Large-Scale Partnership co-coordinator – the European DIGITAL SME Alliance – the consortium brings together 22 organisations from 10 EU countries: digital and sustainability sectors, including Higher Education (HE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Providers, Associations, and Business representatives.

Starting in February 2024, the project will have a 4-year duration.