What kind of jobs will we have in the future? How does employment link to climate change?

These important questions and many more were put under the spotlight at the Quality Employment for Sustainable Development event, which took place in Bulgaria on the 29th and 30th of May. The event was organised by the European Youth Forum and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Bulgaria, with support from the National Youth Forum of Bulgaria. Around 45 participants from Bulgaria and across Europe gathered to discuss the connections, potential conflicts and possible solutions for quality employment for sustainable development. The European Youth Forum’s Expert Group on the Future of Work were also in attendance.

Through a mixture of sessions and workshops participants discussed numerous topics and questions. These topics included what opportunities or risks digitalisation can bring for quality employment, what changes are required to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, what needs to change in terms of business models to contribute to sustainable development and how entrepreneurship can contribute to sustainable development.

During the plenary sessions Valter Nebuloni, from the International Labour Organisation, gave input on the connections between decent work and sustainable development and also with the prevention of climate change. The speakers during the workshops included Elisa Terrasi, from CECOP-CICOPA Europe. She discussed youth cooperative entrepreneurship and the We Own It campaign. The President of CL Podkrepa (Bulgarian Trade Union), Dimitar Manolov, spoke at the closing plenary session to bring in a trade union perspective to the discussions.

One of the main key takeaways from the event is that the right kinds of jobs need to be provided for young people as well as for society and the environment. For this to happen there first must be policy and mentality change.