The government and the Employment Service (AMS) today presented a new initiative to promote green jobs. In the coming months, about 1,000 job seekers will receive further training in the field of climate and sustainability at the environmental foundation. The courses last between six weeks and three years. A technical college education should also be possible. The project started on April 1.
17.5 million euros will be invested in this. Of this, 10 million euros is taken from the labor market budget and 7.5 million euros is financed by the participating companies. The sponsors of the environmental foundation are the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB). The aim is to cover the need for skilled workers in companies and to better utilize the employment potential of the energy transition, said Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) on Tuesday.
“We have to free ourselves from dependence on Russia, from dependence on fossil energy,” said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). This requires speeding up the energy transition. The environmental foundation is a building block on this path.
“Every wind turbine we build this year is a step towards independence and protects our climate.” A major change is now needed to realize the energy transition, “and this change needs employees”, says AMS board member Johannes Kopf. Companies are desperate for staff and cannot find anyone to fill the vacancies. This is where the idea arose to organize the training together with the AMS. A wide variety of sectors are covered, especially the areas of construction and renovation, heating and electricity. Waste and resource management, e-mobility, digitalisation and agriculture are also part of the initiative.
focus on long-term unemployment
Special attention is paid to the education and training of women, the elderly and the long-term unemployed. It’s about giving people who have become unemployed with under- or incorrect qualifications an “opportunity to gain a foothold in the labor market and get a well-paid job,” says Kocher.
Unemployment Benefit and Scholarship
The participants continue to receive unemployment benefits for the duration of the training and a scholarship of at least 200 euros financed by the company.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
