May 22 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
The Western Balkans are undergoing an energy transition, moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This shift is directly linked to job losses, with more than 138,000 jobs in the region linked to coal-related industries. The energy transition also requires a transformation of the workforce to ensure that workers have the skills and technical expertise needed to support the growing renewable energy sector. Investing in skills development and workforce adaptation is essential to mitigate the social challenges, particularly gender disparities, throughout the transition.
GIZ has conducted the first regional analysis of its kind to examine the labour market implications of decarbonising the power sector in the Western Balkans. The study forecasts potential job losses and gains, identifies the skills required for the evolving energy workforce, pinpoints employment bottlenecks, and analyses the critical role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in facilitating the workforce empowerment during energy transition.
The upcoming webinar, “Gender-responsive Energy Transition and Workforce Empowerment in the Western Balkans”, will build on the study’s findings to spark a regional multi-stakeholder discussion on the broader social and gender implications of the energy transition.
The webinar will also explore the potential for job creation and policy solutions throughout the transition and discuss key actions needed to enhance collaboration between the energy and education sectors, to ensure that skills are better aligned with industry needs. Considering this, it will also address the gender disparities in the energy sector and explore how the workforce transition can promote greater inclusion.
