Green Jobs: The Most In-Demand in Italy

What are green jobs?

These are jobs that have a direct relationship with sustainability and the fight against waste. And they are increasingly in demand on the market: opportunities for both training and employment. green jobs They are the new professional frontier of the immediate future (and the present). According to the GreenItaly report by the Symbola Foundation and Unioncamere, a full 3,1 million Italians work in the green sector, and 432,000 companies have invested in the green economy in the last five years. After all, respect for the environment is no longer a "niche" concern but an urgent necessity, and the world of work is also moving in this direction.

Environmental engineer

This professional figure addresses and resolves environmental and sustainability issues, particularly sought after by waste and disposal companies, construction firms, engineering firms, and essential public services. Training generally involves a three-year degree in Environmental Engineering, divided into two parts. The first two years focus more on applied environmental engineering, while the third year offers a more personalized curriculum.

Green mechatronics

By 2023, mechanics and auto electricians must become mechatronics specialists, certified professionals who integrate traditional skills with electronics and IT. The goal? To make engines more efficient, including in terms of environmental sustainability. To become a mechatronics specialist, training is required, including industrial technical training at the higher education and university levels.

Sustainable materials building promoter

The construction market is also changing, and an increasingly necessary professional role is that of the sustainable materials construction promoter. This role represents manufacturing companies or selects green materials within the company they work for.

Bioinformatician

A bioinformatician manages and processes biological data and processes using computer science. They typically work in pharmaceutical and chemical industries, companies that develop software and databases for scientific purposes, and research and development departments. Specializing in this field requires skills in applied computer science, biology, biotechnology, programming, research and development, and biological chemistry. Therefore, the most suitable course of study should include these subjects. Sustainable Chef

Sustainable chefs specialize in green cooking, so they must pay particular attention to the types of products they use, favoring organic and locally sourced produce. They must minimize waste and emphasize recycling. Regarding training, they must earn a hotel school diploma, complementing it with courses and master's degrees in organic and environmental sciences.

Short supply chain agricultural programmer

This professional figure must plan and schedule production processes based on local demand, cultural and gastronomic traditions, and seasonality of products. They also identify local markets and purchasing networks, and integrate the various phases from production to marketing. Regarding training, there is no specific path, but studies in agriculture are recommended.

Environmental educator

The training required to become an environmental educator in Italy is currently unclear. There is no specific curriculum, although even the Ministry of the Environment has defined this professional role as "a fundamental tool for raising awareness among citizens and communities of greater environmental responsibility." In this case, the ideal candidate, for now, is to graduate from a scientific or agricultural school, then pursue a scientific degree in agriculture, biology, environmental sciences, geology, or natural sciences. The Faculty of Education is also recommended for teaching, particularly degree programs for educators, including environmental educators.

Environmental jurist

An environmental lawyer isn't necessarily a lawyer or even a consultant, but rather a legal expert for businesses and public administrations. They offer support in both administrative, economic, and environmental sustainability. There is no professional register dedicated to this profession, but the best path is a master's degree in law. Environmental and energy law courses are recommended.

Environmental IT expert

Environmental IT specialists are highly sought after. Their training overlaps with that of traditional IT specialists, but they must be complemented with specific skills that allow them to work with a sustainable approach. They must possess expertise in green building.

Green Accounting Specialist

This professional figure offers guidance on accounting, tax, and financial matters related to sustainability and energy efficiency. They therefore help navigate, for example, the incentive system and various regulations. They must obviously have a background in accounting, specializing in the environmental sector.

Green bricklayer

A specialist in the use of sustainable materials, such as wood, and also an expert in renovations to make apartments, offices, and shops more energy efficient. The green chemical engineer, on the other hand, carefully studies the disposal of industrial waste and identifies alternative solutions to reduce waste, costs, and environmental impact.

Energy Management Expert (Electronics Engineer)

Energy costs are a crucial component of a company's productivity. They must be reduced through system efficiency improvements, as well as through daily monitoring of consumption and energy management.

Environmental Marketing Expert

A figure entering the commercial sector hierarchy: they must develop the most appropriate strategies to break into the green market and products recognized as sustainable, avoiding any greenwashing practices.

Environmental quality certifier

A profession increasingly in demand in the construction sector and also in public administration, on which certifications depend.

Hydrologists

They are professionals who help prevent water waste. They are highly sought after by companies with high water consumption and costs. And they waste a lot of water that an expert in the sector can help you save.

Travel designer

Here, green travel is well-organized, down to the last detail. A unique, tailor-made adventure, with the goal of promoting local areas and wherever sustainability initiatives are taking place.

Environmental lawyers

Sustainability is increasingly subject to legislative, regulatory, and other updates. This is why legal experts, who can later become lawyers and professors, are increasingly in demand as environmental experts.

Recycling Manager

A new role increasingly in demand by companies to optimize and reduce waste disposal costs. Especially in the fashion industry, the recycling manager is useful for understanding how to reuse all fabric scraps and introduce circular economy criteria into production.

Sustainable landscape architect

Highly sought after by public administrations that are serious about environmental and urban planning issues. A professional capable of designing green spaces and urban redevelopment projects inspired by the idea of mending, rather than demolition and new construction. To become a sustainable landscape architect, there are specific degree and master's programs at the universities of Milan, Turin, and Florence.

Tech Refurbishers

The repair and remanufacturing industry is increasingly thriving. However, specialized technicians are needed who can guarantee one essential thing: that the remanufactured product is identical in features and performance to the new one, barring a few purely aesthetic differences.

Sustainable Chefs

In the culinary world, demand for jobs remains high. But even here, the search is focused on professionals who embrace the new buzzword of sustainability. This is reflected in the dishes they prepare. The sustainable chef cooks with locally sourced ingredients, avoids overly fatty dishes, uses seasonal fruits and vegetables, innovates while respecting tradition. And above all, wastes nothing.

How to find a green job

There are several ways to find a green job , and one of them is Greenjobs.it , a web portal dedicated to green jobs, launched by the Greenin People association, founded by a group of young people passionate about the environment and sustainability. The portal does exactly what our Employment Services, the well-known employment agencies, should do. The needs are wide-ranging, ranging from the food sector to workers specialized in software projects or the creation of IT tools for managing environmental and ecological systems. But there's also room for traditional, artisanal professions, tied to green practices, and therefore to the reuse and avoidance of wasteful materials and scraps. And there's room for eco-lawyers, experts in environmental legislation, which is highly complex and sometimes confusing. In short, there's work to be had, and the folks at Greenjobs.it can help you find it.

Besides help desks like this, other ways to find work in this field are more traditional ones. You need to contact companies in the sector , depending on your training, and apply.

Green degrees

The entire education system is increasingly gearing up to meet the new demand for sustainability-related jobs. But what are the best green universities in Italy, and how do you get into them? The oldest are those of Bologna and Florence, the first to offer a three-year degree program in Environmental Sciences. The Bologna program is located in Ravenna, with open access (enrollment opens in July) and provides significant training in basic mathematics and physics. Even in Venice, as to RavennaThe three-year degree program in Environmental Sciences is divided into three tracks: Social Sciences and Social Service, Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, and Sustainable Technologies. The first two tracks are open to all students, while the third has a limited enrollment.

Green studies

At Bicocca in Milan there are various study paths linked to sustainability, starting from the degree in Environmental Science and Technology and Materials Sciences and Biotechnologyand (with limited access). Then, always at Bicocca, there are some specialist courses, such as the one in Marine Sciences, which focuses on the topics of global warming, the effects on coral reefs, and the damage caused by plastic. Courses are also offered in the Maldives. A newly developed three-year degree program in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Milan has one hundred available places, accessed through a competitive exam. Here, the program combines natural and scientific subjects with legal and economic expertise, crucial given the ongoing evolution of environmental regulations.

Most sought-after green jobs in Italy