The transition to a decarbonized and climate-neutral economy in the Rhenish mining area requires a future-oriented adaptation of existing structures. The structural change will create 27,000 new jobs in the region in the long term. However, it cannot simply be assumed that there will be enough qualified workers available for these jobs. There are already challenges in filling open positions.

Therefore, it is essential to accompany the economic transformation with targeted measures to attract new skilled workers – especially by increasing outreach to young people in the phase before their first career choice and at the training level.

Shaping the future together

The FIT GREEN (Skilled Workers Initiative Green Economy in the Rhenish Mining Area) initiative has set itself the task of actively communicating these employment opportunities. The initiative goes beyond traditional training marketing for "climate and environmental professions." It brings together young people, training companies, vocational colleges, and other stakeholders to improve career orientation, integrate sustainability goals into the training process, and address potential challenges.

As part of the project, we are developing various approaches that build on and complement the existing funding and advisory landscape. The concepts and formats tested, evaluated, and continuously developed during the project duration are intended to support companies, schools, and other institutions in the transformation to a sustainable economy – also across the entire region – and to offer young people new paths in their career orientation after the project ends.

After all, young people have a great interest in authentic insights into their future professional fields. This also presents an opportunity for companies to transparently and purposefully communicate their activities and to make their training and working conditions more attractive, thereby successfully finding and retaining skilled workers.