We talk about preparing for the future of work, yet most of our education systems still train students for the past. For women, this contradiction is even sharper. While industries urgently need green skills to transition towards sustainable growth, women remain underrepresented in the very sectors driving that transition.

Global labour markets are shifting at unprecedented speed. According to the International Labour Organization, the green transition could create 24 million new jobs worldwide by 2030, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and circular manufacturing. These opportunities require a distinct set of competencies often called green skills that enable workers to design, operate, and innovate in environmentally sustainable ways.

Green skills are not a single category of technical expertise. They span from energy-efficient engineering to sustainable supply chain management, from eco-design principles to environmental monitoring. Just as importantly, they include softer capabilities like problem-solving, systems thinking, and adaptability. Qualities that help workers thrive in evolving industries.

For India, where the future of work intersects with ambitious climate commitments, green skills represent both an economic and social imperative. Yet unless women are intentionally included in this transition, the benefits will remain uneven.

Women and Work in the Green Economy

Women’s participation in the workforce is already one of India’s most pressing development challenges. Female labour force participation remains below 30%, and women are often concentrated in informal, low-paying jobs. The rise of the green economy presents a chance to rewrite this trajectory, but it also risks widening the gap if skilling systems don’t adapt.

Green jobs in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate-smart agriculture are often seen as male-dominated fields. Without deliberate pathways for women, we risk replicating existing inequalities in new industries. This is why embedding gender equity in green skills development is foundational.

Building an enabling Ecosystem through FRSN

At the Future Right Skills Network (FRSN), we see the transition towards sustainability as inseparable from the transition towards inclusion. Our work emphasizes three critical levers for ensuring women benefit from the rise of green jobs.

1. Institutional transformation

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and its associated ecosystem play a pivotal role in mainstreaming green curricula. But institutional change must go beyond introducing new courses. Training centres need to become aspirational institutions, welcoming women with safe learning environments, mentorship, and access to industry pathways.

2. Industry linkages

The promise of green jobs is only realized when training aligns with real labour market needs. By co-developing curricula with industries in renewable energy, construction, and manufacturing, FRSN helps ensure that women are not just trained, but trained for quality work and career pathways. Industry partnership is critical to dismantling stereotypes and opening doors for women in emerging fields.

3. Voices from the ground

Systemic change must be evidence-led, but it must also be rooted in lived experiences. FRSN amplifies voices from the ground, from women navigating skill training to trainers adapting to new content. Their insights shape advocacy efforts and guide peer learning within the K&I Community, making inclusion a shared responsibility rather than an afterthought.

The shape of Future-Ready green skills

What, then, are the most critical future-ready skills for women in a green economy? They fall into three categories.

  • Technical Competencies – Renewable energy technologies, waste management practices, eco-design, and sustainable agriculture techniques.

  • Digital and Industry Skills – Data literacy, AI applications in energy systems, and advanced manufacturing aligned with environmental goals.

  • Employability and Soft Skills – Collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, and leadership are competencies that enable women to navigate transitions and take on decision-making roles.

This blend of industry skills and future-ready competencies creates the foundation for an equitable green workforce.

Systemic shifts

Isolated training programs will not be enough. Real transformation requires systemic change, aligning government priorities, industry practices, and civil society initiatives. This is where the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has a unique role to play, mainstreaming green skills across the ITI ecosystem, investing in trainer development, and ensuring policies reflect the needs of both industries and women workers.

Through research, joint advocacy, and the creation of digital public goods, FRSN positions itself as an orchestrator of collaboration, ensuring the future of work is both sustainable and inclusive.

The green economy is not just about reducing emissions

For India, this means ensuring that women are not left behind as industries evolve, but instead are positioned as leaders of change. It is about reimagining who gets to participate in building a sustainable future. 

The future of work demands new skills, but it also demands new values like equity, sustainability, and collaboration. By investing in green skills for women and work, India can unlock not only economic growth but also social progress.

This is the future that FRSN advocates for. A skilling ecosystem that equips women with the competencies to thrive in a green economy, amplifies their voices, and transforms institutions from the ground up.

Because the green transition is not just an environmental imperative. It is a generational opportunity to build a workforce that is future-ready, inclusive, and resilient.