Assessing the specific sectoral and cross-sectoral green skills mismatch: evidence from North Macedonia

The ongoing energy crisis, along with accelerating climate change and the depletion of natural resources, has increased attention on how to respond to these challenges. The shift toward a greener economy and the integration of sustainable technologies will influence all sectors, making it necessary for individuals to develop new skills and update existing ones. The empirical analysis in this article is based on a survey carried out on a representative sample of 530 companies in North Macedonia during March-April 2025. The results demonstrate the existence of substantial green skills imbalances, affecting both sector-specific and cross-sectoral competencies. In this context, certain industries exhibit particularly high imbalances, reflecting the uneven pace of the transformation and underscoring the need for targeted policy responses. The results point to a systemic misalignment between the education and training system and the evolving needs of a green economy. Accordingly, a set of policy recommendations is proposed in educational reform, alongside incentives for private investment in the adoption of green practices.