Green jobs: 3 sectors in full transformation in Luxembourg

This article is part of our monthly series: “Green jobs in Luxembourg”.

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Each Tuesday, find a different article on our site:

• Everything you need to know about green jobs in Luxembourg (read here)
• Training and retraining: the keys to accessing green jobs (read here)
• Green jobs: 3 sectors in full transformation in Luxembourg
• Businesses in Luxembourg: who is really banking on the green economy? (read here)

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The Luxembourg green economy is based on three main levers: circular economy, responsible agriculture and renewable energies. Focus on these sectors in full transformation, engines of the “green jobs” of tomorrow.

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The circular economy, a strategic driver for sustainable employment

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In the Grand Duchy, the circular economy is no longer a theoretical idea but a strategy carried out at the highest level of the State.

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The program Circular Luxembourg, presented by the government, is one of the key areas for support companies in the reuse of materials, the reduction of waste and eco-design. The government details the foundations in its National Strategy for the Circular Economy accessible online via the official portal.

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This political choice responds to a structural imperative. In a country that is largely dependent on the import of raw materials, circularity is becoming a lever for sovereignty. As pointed out luxemburg.public.lu, the control of material flows is now considered as a central condition for economic resilience.

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The impact on employment is becoming significant andemergence of jobs such as eco-design engineer, sorting and recovery equipment technician, reverse logistics specialist or life cycle analyst, reflects a profound transformation of the market.

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Entire sectors are thus forced to rethink their model, from product design to end-of-life management. In an interview published by Luxinnovation, the sustainable development expert Charles-Albert Florentin recalls that” The circular economy is a powerful strategy, not only for reducing waste, but also for maintaining business activity ”.

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An analysis shared by Anne-Marie Reuter, researcher at LIST, for whom” circularity is becoming a common language between engineers, designers and decision makers ”, illustrating the extent of cultural change under way at the local level.

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In this perspective, the circular economy is no longer limited to an environmental objective. She becomes a sector of economic growth that generates new jobs, requires hybrid skills and is transforming organizations.

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The rise of eco-design, innovative materials, repair or reuse is part of a structural movement that is already shaping recruitment in Luxembourg.

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Sustainable agriculture: a sector in transition between tradition and modernity

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Luxembourg agriculture is also undergoing a profound transition phase. The PAC strategic plan 2023-2027, presented on the European Commission's website, focuses on diversification, short supply chains, input reduction and organic production.

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The objective set is ambitious: reach 20% of usable agricultural area in organic farming by 2025, as the European platform SHERPA recalls.

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These orientations create new skills needs. Farms are equipped with connected sensors, observation drones or agricultural mapping software..

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This hybridization between rural traditions and digital technologies brings out profiles such as agri-tech technician, soil management specialist, short circuit consultant or agricultural drone pilot.

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The Ministry of Agriculture also supports the installation of young farmers, the modernization of infrastructures or the deployment of photovoltaic panels on agricultural buildings, as confirmed by the Global Trade Alert database.

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Several committed operators attest to the ongoing change. In an interview published by the European SHERPA program, an organic producer thus states that” sustainable agriculture is not a step backwards, but a reasoned modernization ”.

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For his part, agricultural engineer Tom Kellen recalls that” the main challenge now is to reconcile productivity, energy efficiency and crop diversity ”.

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But these advances are not without obstacles. Generational renewal remains a major challenge, as does training in ever more complex technologies.

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In addition, there are competitiveness issues for small farms, which are sometimes faced with significant transition costs. However, these difficulties also represent job opportunities in training, consulting, project management and farm support.

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Renewable energies: a strategic lever for Luxembourg's transition

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Luxembourg has enshrined its climate ambitions in the National Energy-Climate Plan (PNEC) 2030, available on Gouvernement.lu. This framework aims at a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2005 and a 35 to 37% share of renewable energies in final consumption.

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In this plan, Photovoltaics, wind, biomass and energy efficiency are the main levers identified, sectors expected to grow strongly in the coming years in Luxembourg according to the analysis by CMS Law.

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In the Grand Duchy, labour needs are increasing in the installation of solar panels, smart grids, the maintenance of wind farms or even the energy renovation of buildings.

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The development of charging infrastructures for electric vehicles also contributes to this dynamic. For example, EnergieAuer points out that installed capacities are growing steadily, supported by public and private investments.

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This evolution requires specialized technicians, electrical network engineers, mobility project managers or even energy auditors.

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However, the ambitions expressed come up against several difficulties. The country remains dependent on the import of energy and some media, including the newspaper Luxembourg Times, believe that the rise of renewable energies could have been more rapid by 2024.

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In addition, there is an important skill challenge: the formation of technical profiles adapted to these sectors is not progressing quickly enough. The social acceptability of wind energy projects, land management and the integration of small producers also remain sensitive issues that require political trade-offs. A Creos engineer thus recalls that” The energy transition is based as much on engineering as on the capacity of the territory to host infrastructures ”.

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New synergies and the rise of green jobs

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Beyond these three main sectors, other industries play an essential role in the green transition in Luxembourg, such as mobility, digital technology, tourism or finance.

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Green mobility is developing rapidly, influenced by the expansion of the electric vehicle, intermodality and the emergence of low-emission urban logistics.

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Green digital technology, based on IoT, blockchain or intelligent data management, creates bridges between engineering, IT and sustainable development.

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Sustainable tourism, for its part, is gaining ground thanks to the valorization of natural landscapes, eco-responsible accommodations and the development of natural infrastructures.

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Finally, green finance is a strategic axis for Luxembourg, in particular via platforms such as Luxembourg Green Exchange, which position the country as a European leader in green bonds.

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The diversity and complementarity of these sectors reinforce the multidimensional nature of “green jobs”. They require transversal skills: project management, data analysis, understanding of ESG standards, technical expertise, knowledge of sustainable materials, etc.

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This transversality requires companies, public institutions and candidates to rethink vocational guidance and training systems.

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A successful transformation provided that talent is trained and businesses supported

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Luxembourg is committed to a profound transformation around the circular economy, sustainable agriculture and renewable energies. These three major sectors, reinforced by the rise of green digital technology, sustainable finance and clean mobility, are drawing up a completely renewed professional landscape. Green jobs are multiplying, involving skills that are more advanced, more hybrid and more focused on innovation.

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However, the success of this transition depends on: the ability to train talent, to support businesses in their transformations and to ensure a just transition for all economic players.

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For candidates and recruiters alike, these changes represent a unique opportunity to participate in the construction of a new economic model that is more resilient and more sustainable.

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FAQS

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Which specific jobs are currently the most in demand in the circular economy in Luxembourg?

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Jobs related to the reuse of materials, repair, waste recovery and eco-design are particularly sought after. Businesses need recycling technicians, logisticians specialized in the return of flows, engineers in sustainable materials or even life cycle analysts.

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What skills are needed to work in renewable energies?

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Technical profiles are essential, whether for the installation of photovoltaic panels, the maintenance of infrastructures, the management of smart networks or the energy renovation of buildings. In addition, digital, analytical and regulatory skills are essential in a highly regulated sector.

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Can sustainable agriculture really offer professional opportunities?

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Yes, because the sector is modernizing and digitizing. The 2023-2027 PAC Strategic Plan encourages organic farming, short supply chains and agri-tech, which opens up opportunities for farmers, agricultural technology technicians, organic waste managers or even agricultural transition advisers.

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