Bridging the Skills Gap: Key Research Insights on Digital for Sustainability Competences

The twin transition—referring to the simultaneous drive towards digital transformation and sustainability—sits at the heart of European strategic priorities. Within this context, the Digital4Sustainability project aims to ensure that Europe’s workforce is equipped with the right skills to navigate, lead and thrive in this evolving landscape. A cornerstone of this mission is the identification and analysis of emerging roles, competences and gaps within the labour market related to digital sustainability.

The Digital4Sustainability Roles and Skills Needs Analysis Report offers critical insights into the evolving demand for digital sustainability skills, key role  profiles, and the educational and training needs. This blog summarises the key findings from our literature review, labour market analysis, and stakeholder questionnaires.

Twin Transition: Structural Labour Market Transformation

Evidence from the literature confirms that the twin transition is already reshaping the European labour market. Companies across sectors are experiencing acute skills shortages, particularly in fields that intersect digitalisation and sustainability. Rather than existing in isolation, digital and sustainability competences frequently overlap. For instance, implementing circular economy models or smart energy systems typically requires a hybrid understanding of digital tools and sustainable practices.

Transversal and soft skills—such as critical thinking, adaptability, and collaboration—are essential across all sectors. Furthermore, regional, sectoral, and organisational variations demand tailored reskilling and upskilling pathways; a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model is insufficient to address the complex landscape of workforce needs.

Sectoral Demand for Digital Sustainability Skills

Labour market analysis highlighted strong demand for digital sustainability skills in sectors such as:

• Circular economy
• Energy and utilities
• Logistics and transport
• Manufacturing and construction
• Agriculture

In the services sector, roles in ICT, law, engineering, architecture, science, and finance are most likely to be impacted. These roles increasingly require professionals to engage with sustainability-focused data, digital tools, and regulatory frameworks.

The analysis also highlighted the emergence of new professions such as:

• Carbon auditors
• Environmental consultants
• Responsible digital managers
• Responsible digital educators

Notably, ICT professionals are being called upon to develop environmentally sustainable solutions or to optimise existing systems for improved sustainability outcomes.

Insights from Organisational Survey

A project-wide stakeholder questionnaire confirmed that while the role of Digital Sustainability Lead is already present in many organisations, more specialised technical roles—such as sustainability engineers or data analysts—are still relatively uncommon. The most significant gap identified is in sustainability data roles, which remain underdeveloped despite the central importance of data in measuring and advancing sustainable practices.

When asked about relevant skills, respondents identified a combination of technical sustainability topics and transversal skills. Interestingly, the most relevant competences were not always highly specific; for example, valuing sustainability was ranked as a leading skill. This underscores the importance of mindset and organisational culture in driving the twin transition forward.

The results also indicate that transversal skills not directly tied to sustainability—such as teamwork and communication—are fundamental. These skills enable interdisciplinary collaboration, which is critical in solving complex sustainability challenges.

From I-Shaped to M-Shaped Professionals

The study reveals that to truly master the twin transition, the European workforce must evolve beyond traditional professional profiles. Historically, organisations have relied on “I-shaped” professionals (experts in a single field) or “T-shaped” professionals (with deep knowledge in one area and broad knowledge in others). However, the future demands “M-shaped” professionals—those with deep expertise in three key areas:

1. Digital technologies
2. Sustainability
3. Sector-specific knowledge

These professionals will be best positioned to lead innovation, develop resilient systems, and drive organisational transformation.

Implications for Education and Training

The findings suggest that one of the quickest pathways to addressing skills gaps is through upskilling existing digital professionals with sustainability knowledge. The reverse—equipping sustainability professionals with digital expertise—is also viable, though more demanding, given the technical nature of many digital roles.

Training must be modular, adaptable, and short in duration to be accessible to working professionals. There is also a need to go beyond narrow ESG and carbon reporting requirements and incorporate a broader understanding of sustainability aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Next Steps

These insights feed directly into the development of the Digital Sustainability Skills Strategy and the design of educational profiles, curricula, accreditation criteria, certifications, and learning programmes to be piloted across Europe. By identifying both the roles and the skillsets required for the twin transition, Digital4Sustainability is building the foundations for a future-proof workforce.

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