Emerald council at Beci.
As Europe faces growing skills shortages in the green and digital sectors, the EMERALD project is unlocking the potential of migrant workers through innovative training pathways and public-private collaboration across six countries.
As Europe accelerates its green and digital transitions, labour markets are undergoing profound change. While new opportunities are emerging across sectors, skills shortages and demographic shifts are putting increasing pressure on employers. In this context, unlocking the potential of migrant workers already present in the European Union is more important than ever.
This is precisely the ambition of EMERALD, a European project funded by the Erasmus+ programme. The initiative promotes the upskilling and reskilling of migrant workers for careers in the green and digital economy through innovative public-private partnerships.
Understanding needs, removing barriers
To achieve this, EMERALD first focuses on analysing labour market needs and the situation of migrants in five countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy and Spain. Through desk research, surveys, interviews, focus groups and consultations with employers, public employment services, sector experts, policymakers, associations and migrants themselves, the project identifies skills, needs and barriers to training in the green and digital sectors.
Co-creating solutions through reskilling labs
EMERALD mobilises stakeholders through local “reskilling labs”. These multi-actor groups, established in each country, bring together employers, public authorities and organisations supporting migrants. Their mission is to co-design training pathways that reflect both labour market realities and the needs of migrant workers.
From these collaborative efforts, targeted training pathways are identified and developed. In each country, two high-potential job profiles are selected. The training programmes are designed to be short (up to 200 hours), practical and accessible, taking into account varying levels of education and language proficiency. Mentoring is also included to support learning and retention.
Testing training pathways in real conditions
These training pathways will then be tested in cooperation with companies ready to recruit migrants with green and digital skills. The programmes integrate soft skills development and professional coaching to enhance employability. In total, 120 migrants from non-EU countries will participate in this pilot phase.
Beyond training, EMERALD also provides comprehensive and personalised support to participants, ensuring a holistic approach to integration into the labour market.
A strong European partnership
The project brings together 14 organisations from six countries, including employers’ organisations such as chambers of commerce, training providers, employment support organisations and experts in research and communication. Partners include organisations such as Beci – Brussels Chamber of Commerce, Le Monde des Possibles and Synlar in Belgium; the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Caritas Sofia; Ambitio College and IRMO in Croatia; Assedel in France; Aslam, Formape and Soleterre (project coordinator) in Italy; and Infodef, Fetico and the Chamber of Commerce of Valladolid in Spain.
Brussels as a hub for exchange
In December 2025, project partners gathered in Brussels for a project meeting, providing an opportunity to exchange practices and strengthen cooperation. Participants visited the Cité des Métiers, a key actor in career guidance and professional integration, and discovered inspiring local initiatives supporting migrant inclusion. Among them, the “Duo for a Job” mentoring programme stood out as an example of how intergenerational exchange can facilitate access to employment.
As a partner in the EMERALD project, Beci actively contributes to these efforts by fostering collaboration between businesses, training providers and public stakeholders. Its involvement ensures that the project remains closely aligned with the needs of the local economic ecosystem.
Organisations wishing to contribute to more inclusive labour markets whilst addressing skills shortages are invited to join the EMERALD project’s reskilling labs.
For more information, contact Ekaterina Clifford, our International Community Manager : ekc@beci.be
