This mutual learning event, hosted by the city of Stockholm, brings together WG Employment, WG Education and others, from across Eurocities’ network to critically engage with the challenges vulnerable groups face in trying to adapt to a changing labour market, in the context of the green transition. The aim is to share knowledge, experience, expertise and best practices and to develop solutions together. Stockholm has the ambition to be a city that leads the work on climate change. In the green transition, new opportunities and new jobs are created. Stockholm has adopted a proactive approach to skills development for vulnerable groups.

Different initiatives include:  

• The ESF project “Sverige Bygger Nytt”, integration of newly arrivals into the labour market construction industry;  
• Welcome House, a one-stop shop that offers a holistic support and guidance to newly arrivals; 
• The Integration Pact – the City of Stockholm’s member network for a more inclusive labour market. The Integration Pact gathers more than 470 organizations from the business, non-profit and public sector, working towards the integration of vulnerable groups in the labour market.

Background

Investment in green skills has become essential to ensure the transition to carbon neutrality in Europe. Emerging skills needs in the environmental economy, labour shortages in critical sectors such as the construction sector and labour market changes have rendered up-skilling and re-skilling efforts critical. The people most immediately exposed to these changes are those who are already vulnerable and marginalised in our societies. With no adequate support these groups risk being excluded from the changing labour market, and further impacted by growing marginalization and social exclusion. Ensuring the fair provision of green skills is thus not only crucial for the green transition but also for an inclusive recovery. 

Cities are crucial actors to address the most important challenges related to skills at the local level. They ensure the provision of green and digital skills to municipal staff; they also contribute to shaping the local economic context and develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders to ensure the local provision of skills to their residents.

The aim of the event is to bring cities together to learn and exchange as we continue to work towards a just green transition that equips all our citizens with the skills they need to succeed in a changing world. In particular, we want to address the challenges that vulnerable groups can encounter acquiring ‘green’ skills and entering the developing ‘green’ economy. It will be of interest to any cities working towards a fair and inclusive green transition.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.