Building energy efficiency is essential to meet the European Union’s sustainability goals for 2030. However, achieving these objectives requires a workforce equipped with advanced digital and green skills, which are still lacking in both design professionals and construction companies in Italy. The RES2 project, funded by the EU LIFE Program, addresses this need by supporting policymakers, businesses, and VET (vocational education and training) providers in developing and formally recognizing the skills demanded by the market.

Strategic Roadmap: Objectives and Challenges

Italy’s National Energy Strategy (SEN) outlines the government’s vision for creating a more competitive, sustainable, and secure energy system. The key priorities include:

  • Increasing renewable energy sources: Achieving 28% of total energy consumption from renewables by 2030.
  • Energy efficiency: Reducing consumption by 30% through advanced technologies and efficient processes.
  • Decarbonization: Phasing out coal-fired electricity production by 2025, with targeted infrastructure interventions.
  • Energy security and innovation: Enhancing network management and energy flows by integrating renewables and diversifying energy supplies.
  • Energy market development: Reducing the energy price gap with the rest of Europe, liberalizing markets, and lowering system costs.
  • Research and development: Doubling investments in clean technologies, allocating €444 million by 2021.
  • Governance and regulation: Coordinating national and regional energy policies to ensure strategic alignment and synergy.

The Role of Skills in Achieving Sustainability Goals

While plans and funding are essential for the green and digital transition, the availability of the right skills is just as crucial. In Italy, however, there is still no clear strategy for recognizing and certifying skills acquired in non-formal or informal contexts, as required by Law 13/2013. This gap leads to poor-quality work, inefficiencies, and legal disputes.

Training plays a fundamental role in ensuring financial incentives translate into effective interventions. Digital skills (such as using Building Information Modeling, BIM) and sustainability knowledge must become core components of educational programs. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) aims to modernize the construction sector, making such integration even more urgent.

Reorganizing Labor Policies: New Challenges

A complicating factor is the recent closure of ANPAL, the National Agency for Active Labor Policies, whose responsibilities have been transferred to the newly created Sviluppo Lavoro Italia, operational since March 2024. This transition could delay skill recognition and the management of EU training funds, increasing the risk of resource misallocation.

A Paradigm Shift in Education: Toward Active and Informed Citizenship

The proposed roadmap goes beyond technical skill development, encouraging a rethinking of active citizenship. It’s not enough to train highly specialized professionals; it’s also necessary to foster a culture of collective participation, where the social and environmental impact of individual actions is central. The challenge is not only to do “more” but to do better together, engaging workers, businesses, and institutions in a shared growth process.

This approach is essential to overcoming the competitive model based on freelance work and precarious contracts, which has led to wage stagnation and skill obsolescence. Integrating collaborative practices—such as promoting energy communities and knowledge sharing—can help build a more resilient and innovative ecosystem.

Call to Action

The solutions outlined in the RES2 roadmap will be explored in detail during the autumn workshops. These events will provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges and strategies for developing digital and green skills in the construction sector, bringing together experts, businesses, and policymakers in constructive dialogue.

Don’t miss this opportunity to participate!