GRECO: Green Economy Career Orientation

<< Background >>The GRECO project was developed to address the lack of awareness and guidance about green careers among young people and those supporting them. Research showed that only 10% of European youth are aware of opportunities in the green economy, while youth workers often lack tools to guide them toward sustainable jobs. At the same time, the green sector is expanding rapidly, yet skill mismatches and uneven local training limit access to these opportunities. The partnership identified the need to empower youth workers as key agents of change who can connect young people to meaningful, future-oriented employment. GRECO responded by developing innovative tools, training, and a manual of good practices to build their capacity to guide youth toward green careers adapted to local labour markets. The project addressed both employability and climate priorities, supporting a fair and inclusive green transition across Europe.<< Objectives >>The GRECO project implemented a series of interconnected activities structured across 5 work packages. Throughout the entire lengs of the WP1 the coordination and management tasks ensured smooth collaboration among partners. Under WP2, partners researched and developed a Manual of Good Practices, collecting real-life examples of successful green careers and youth initiatives across Europe. WP3 focused on creating and delivering an online Holistic Training Programme for youth workers on the options of green careers. The piloting of the platform combined online and in-person sessions to enhance youth workers’ knowledge about the green economy, career guidance, and digital tools. In WP4, partners developed a methodology which aims at facilitating youth workers’ ability to conduct local surveys with green job providers and workers to identify labour market needs and adapt the training methodology to local contexts, enabling youth workers to connect young people to relevant opportunities. Finally, WP5 involved dissemination activities such as events, digital campaigns, and multiplier events to share results and promote collaboration among stakeholders in education, business, and policy << Implementation >>The GRECO project was structured around five main work packages combining research, training, and dissemination. It started with project management and coordination to ensure effective collaboration among partners. In WP2, partners developed a Manual of 30 Good Practices, collecting examples of successful green careers and initiatives across Europe. WP3 focused on designing and implementing a Holistic Online Training Programme for youth workers, including 6 modules about the green economy, engagement strategies, and green entrepreneurship. The training was piloted with 60 youth workers and shared with an additional 55 participants through the SALTO Youth Platform. In WP4, partners applied the Green Workforce Adaptation Methodology with 12 selected youth workers, who tested it locally to identify labour market needs and link training to real green job opportunities. Finally, WP5 focused on dissemination, through local events, social media outreach, and multiplier activities, ensuring visibility and long-term use of the project results.<< Results >>The GRECO project produced tangible and measurable results. -A Manual of 30 Good Practices was created, featuring real examples of successful green careers and initiatives from across Europe.- An online training platform was developed, including six interactive modules on: (1) Principles of the green economy, (2) Benefits of the green economy, (3) Competencies to work in the green field and useful resources, (4) Engaging young people, (5) Green entrepreneurship, and (6) Job opportunities. The training was piloted with 64 youth workers from partner countries, with an additional 52 participants joining through the SALTO Youth Platform. -A Green Workforce Adaptation Methodology was tested with 12 selected youth workers, who applied it locally to identify labour market needs and align the training with real job opportunities. Together, these outputs improved youth workers’ capacity to guide young people toward green careers, strengthened links between education and employment, and promoted collaboration among organisations working for a fair and inclusive green transition.