Generation Green: Equipping Youth to Accelerate a Green Economic Shift

You’ve just graduated, aced your exams, and are now eager to kickstart your career. But what exactly are you looking for in your new job? You want a role that matches your skills, offers growth opportunities and allows you to make a positive impact on the world. While these aspirations may seem lofty, such jobs do exist. In fact, we will be needing more of these jobs: If we commit to putting a halt to climate change and to transforming our fossil-based economy into a net zero one, the International Labour Organization projects that a green economic shift could create an additional 15 to 60 million jobs globally.

This is an impressive and promising figure, but what does it mean in practical terms? In Eastern and Southeastern Europe, where youth unemployment rates are among the highest in Europe, do young people believe that greening the economy can help alleviate their unemployment woes? In early 2024, Helvetas conducted a series of focus group discussions with youth organizations involved in green initiatives in the region to better understand the incentives to increase participation levels of youth and businesses in the green transition. Our learnings are shared below.

Raising awareness and fostering youth engagement in the green transition

In many countries of the region, young job seekers lack information and awareness about the green transition, resulting in low motivation to participate. However, the situation is changing; young people are gradually becoming more aware of their role in shifting to a greener and just economy.

For example, in North Macedonia schools and teachers have significantly shaped youth perceptions and behaviors towards sustainability. Teachers serve as key influencers by integrating green education into everyday school activities and providing early exposure to diverse career options, thereby fostering sustainability consciousness among students. Over time, it has been observed that in North Macedonia an increasing number of individuals are joining interest groups and communities that promote sustainable practices and green innovations.   

Collaborative efforts for sustainable development

While some young people in Eastern and Southeastern Europe may not yet fully appreciate the opportunities to engage in green practices, the success of a green transition will depend on the collaboration of many stakeholders. Key actors in the region, including governments, businesses and civil society must collaborate more effectively to accelerate the transition. They face challenges such as reforming energy-intensive economies, modernizing coal-dominated power sectors and increasing the use of renewable energy resources. Adopting a circular economy approach could help address the region's low resource productivity and high material import dependency, while generating employment opportunities in waste management and recycling.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 requires a fundamental shift in our global economic system, where climate change and environmental considerations are integrated into every facet of decision-making. Private companies must play a more decisive role, taking responsibility by financing and scaling these efforts and to spur innovations.  The current economic model, which often prioritizes short-term profit and growth at the expense of environmental sustainability, is not conducive to achieving these goals. By aligning economic incentives with environmental objectives, countries – in particular those in Eastern and Southeastern Europe – can unlock new opportunities for innovation, green jobs and inclusive growth, thus paving the way towards a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.

Helvetas' approach to environmental sustainability

At Helvetas, we have long emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability and recognize the vital role it plays in achieving our goals. Integrating environmental objectives requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond isolated environmental interventions. Helvetas recognizes the need for transformative action towards an Inclusive Green Economy. This transition not only helps to reduce the negative effects of climate change, but also enhances resilience to environmental degradation, promotes fairness in society, and bolsters long-term economic stability.

To effectively advance an Inclusive Green Economy, we are committed to investing in five interconnected intervention areas. These include: circular economic solutions, sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems, green products and services (e.g., renewable energy), green finances, trade and markets, and green skills and competences.

The importance of green skills and competencies in education

Returning to our young job seeker, let’s focus on the question of green skills and competencies. The economic transition is reshaping the skills demands of jobs, including both the requirements for emerging jobs and adjustments to existing jobs. Green skills encompass a wide array of technical competencies, transversal skills and knowledge essential for thriving in resource-efficient and sustainable economies. They also include abilities, values and attitudes necessary for individuals to effectively live, work and contribute to environmentally sustainable practices. Education systems, from basic to adult education, need to adapt to the newly emerging requirements. This adaptation involves not only updating skill sets but also reforming teaching and learning methodologies to incorporate sustainability principles across disciplines.

Education, including vocational education and training (VET), plays a critical role beyond merely preparing a skilled workforce for private sector needs. It also entails educating business leaders, employees and consumers about sustainable practices and their benefits. This broader educational mandate cultivates a mindset of environmental stewardship and equips individuals with the competencies needed to innovate and thrive in green industries. By integrating green skills into curricula and promoting lifelong learning opportunities, education systems can empower individuals and organizations to embrace sustainability as a cornerstone of future economic and social development.

The Education for Employment project in North Macedonia

Let’s make this concept more concrete with a look at the Education for Employment (E4E) project. In collaboration with UNICEF and the Vocational Education and Training Center, the project is working to enhance access to green skills in North Macedonia. The E4E project has an ambitious goal of creating synergy among North Macedonia’s educational institutions, business and youth. In 2024, the partnership aims to contribute to a "greening" of 10 VET educational programs, targeting curricula that have the potential to contribute to decarbonizing the economy and reducing air pollution.

Collaborating with the private sector

Makstil, a leading player in the steel industry, is one of 28 companies partnering with a training provider in the E4E project. Through this investment, Makstil is focusing on equipping its workforce with essential skills through targeted upskilling programs while also investing in advanced technologies and sustainable practices. This dual focus on people and technology ensures that their employees are well-prepared to adapt to evolving industry demands, while the company aligns with the latest industry trends in sustainability and competitiveness.

By embracing green practices and advanced manufacturing technologies, Makstil is enhancing production efficiency and significantly reducing its environmental footprint. These efforts are geared toward minimizing costs, boosting productivity and improving product quality, all while making the workplace safer and more environmentally conscious.

This shift towards greener practices mirrors broader industry trends and has profound implications for the workforce, particularly young professionals. Makstil's commitment to sustainability provides emerging talent with the opportunity to gain valuable green skills and engage in cutting-edge work within the steel industry. To support this, the company offers scholarships, paid internships and training programs, ensuring that students gain professional experience and a clear pathway to full-time employment. Makstil’s initiatives are equipping the next generation of steelworkers to thrive in a greener, more sustainable economy — and showcasing an example of a private sector approach we’d like to see used more widely.

Regional conference on green skills

Helvetas is organizing a conference this November that builds on our experiences from projects such as E4E and addresses the concerns of young jobseekers regarding the green transition and jobs of the future. The theme is “Generation Green: Skills, Career and Innovation.” The conference will explore the potential for green job creation in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, discuss the necessary skills and training for the future workforce, and examine the role of youth in driving the green transition. By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors, the conference aims to foster collaboration and activate the dialog among the stakeholders to develop strategies to increase youth participation in the green economy.  

Stay tuned for conference updates here.

About the Authors

Rob van Hout is a Senior Advisor for Private Sector Development at Helvetas.

Aleksandra Siljanovska is the Communication Advisor for Helvetas’ E4E project.