Quantitative Analysis of the Priority Green Occupations in Spain

Context: Environmental sustainability has become an urgent priority in Spain, as in the rest of the world, requiring a skilled workforce to drive the green transition. In this context, vocational education and training (VET) is poised to play a crucial role in preparing the workforce for emerging green occupations and addressing 14 key environmental challenges identified for Spain (spanning climate change and biodiversity domains). Approach: This study employed a mixed-method quantitative analysis to map Spain’s priority environmental challenges to labor market needs and VET programs. A comprehensive identification of green occupations was conducted by combining international data from the ESCO database (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations) with national expert insights. This yielded 117 occupations linked to environmental sustainability, later distilled to 71 priority green occupations that correspond to VET profiles. Findings: The analysis reveals that approximately 61% of the identified green occupations in Spain are in occupational categories theoretically served by VET programs, underlining VET’s centrality to the green transition. A total of 60 VET diploma programs have been identified as key for these green occupations that now constitute roughly 22% of all VET offer in Spain. Enrollment in these “green” VET programs has grown dramatically – by 50% at the intermediate level and over 90% at the advanced level since 2013. Labor market data show a steadily rising share of the workforce employed in green occupations, amounting to about 5.9 million workers in 2023 (27,9%). The share of those with VET qualifications is around 26%. However, significant challenges persist: the green workforce is heavily male-dominated and faces a pronounced generational gap, with over one million more older workers than young workers in green roles. Looking ahead, an estimated 3.48 million job openings (28.9% of total openings) in the next decade will be in occupations potentially green, nearly one-third of which will require VET qualifications. Conclusions: Spain’s VET system has proven responsive to sustainability imperatives, with strong growth in green-related programs and positive employment outcomes for their graduates. Nonetheless, to fully harness VET’s potential in addressing environmental challenges, strategic action is needed. This includes attracting a more diverse (and younger) student population into green VET programs and green career pathways and forging stronger links with industries driving the ecological transition.