Croatia needs 30,000 workers to achieve 2030 energy efficiency goals in buildings sector

Croatia will need about 30,000 employees per year with secondary school qualifications and university degrees to achieve its 2030 energy efficiency goals in the buildings sector, Croatia Green Building Council estimated.

The biggest challenges to achieving the 2030 energy and climate targets are the lack of workers and their insufficient knowledge of energy-efficient technologies. Today one in five employees in Croatia is from abroad. These are some of the key takeaways from the ‘Status quo analysis of the building sector in Croatia and skills of construction workers in the field of energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy’, local media reported.

Its authors estimated that to meet the 2030 energy efficiency goals in the buildings sector, the country will need 24,500 qualified workers and 5,800 architects and construction, mechanical, and electrical engineers.

The EU’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 from the 1990 levels

The European Union has set its 2030 goal for greenhouse gas emissions at 40% lower than the level measured in 1990. The buildings sector in Croatia consumes 40% of the energy and generates 36% of CO2 emissions.

The EU target could be achieved by scaling up energy renovation of the existing stock and the construction of new almost zero energy buildings (nZEB buildings). However, such activities will require a larger number of qualified workers including craftsmen and entrepreneurs with special knowledge and expertise in using new technologies and providing high-quality construction.

40% to 60% of craftsmen said they do not know enough about energy-efficient technologies

According to the analysis, 40% to 60% of craftsmen said they do not know enough about energy-efficient technologies, but they are eager to learn.

At the same time, there is insufficient interest in the majority of three-year secondary education programs for the sector. The quotas are not met and the curricula are falling behind the needs in the market.

The analysis was prepared as part of the CRO skills Reload project, implemented by the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Zagreb, Croatia Green Building Council, Croatian Chamber of Traders and Crafts, Regional Energy Agency North and the country’s association of vocational construction schools.