France's Enabling City Transformation Activity: JET Cities – Boosting Green Workforce in Cities

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Marseille, Paris, Lyon, Dijon, Grenoble

French

Context and Challenges

JET Cities addresses the employment risks and opportunities of the ecological transition by developing inclusive pathways to green jobs. The five cities represent 3.5 million jobs and 6% of France’s carbon footprint. Between 7–11% of jobs are considered at risk due to the transition. The project responds to this by:

  • Anticipating economic disruptions and workforce needs
  • Supporting vulnerable groups through professional integration
  • Aligning local employment strategies with national ecological planning
  • Strengthening the role of cities in climate action and workforce transformation

It builds on Climate City Contracts and national strategies to territorialise ecological planning and make climate action a shared concern across departments.

Objectives

  • Diagnose local workforce needs and skill gaps in green sectors
  • Promote green job opportunities, especially for vulnerable populations
  • Pilot strategic workforce planning tools for public administrations
  • Strengthen cities’ operational role in employment and integration
  • Develop replicable models for workforce transition and climate action

Key Terms

Green Workforce | Just Transition | Professional Integration | Strategic Planning | Green Jobs

Activites and Innovations

  • Conduct local studies to identify green job opportunities and skill gaps

  • Develop strategic HR plans for public administrations to support climate goals

  • Promote green careers through public events, guides, and training campaigns

  • Fund and test innovative approaches to professional integration in green sectors

  • Train employment advisors and support vulnerable groups into green jobs

  • Monitor and evaluate project outcomes to inform policy and replication

Emission Domains

  • All vehicles and transport

  • Electricity use in buildings and infrastructure

  • Thermal energy use in buildings

  • Industrial process emissions

  • Land use (including agriculture and forestry)

  • Waste management

Levers of Change

  • Democracy and Participation

  • Governance and Policy

  • Learning and Capabilities

  • Social Innovation

Expected Impact and Outcomes

  • Reliable territorial projections for green workforce needs
  • Increased access to green jobs for vulnerable citizens
  • Strengthened collaboration between cities, businesses, and training institutions
  • Enhanced capacity of public administrations to lead climate action
  • Transferable methodologies for other EU cities
  • Contribution to updating Climate City Contract templates with HR planning