Across MED-GEM partner countries, this shift is creating a new and urgent challenge. The hydrogen workforce of tomorrow will require more than energy expertise. Operators, technicians and engineers will increasingly need to navigate digital environments, manage data and interact with advanced control systems.  Without these competencies, the deployment of hydrogen projects risks facing a new bottleneck: the lack of digitally skilled professionals.

This is precisely the focus of the latest report developed under the EU-funded MED-GEM Network. The report explores the intersection between green hydrogen, workforce development and digital transformation across the Southern Mediterranean. It highlights how the energy transition is also becoming a transformation of jobs, skills and training systems.

Key insights include:

• The growing demand for hybrid profiles combining engineering and digital skills
• The need to adapt education and vocational training systems to emerging industry requirements
• The importance of early anticipation, as skills development takes time while hydrogen markets are rapidly evolving
• The opportunity to leverage existing capabilities in digital, industrial and energy sectors

Beyond analysis, the report proposes a forward-looking roadmap to support partner countries in preparing their workforce for this transition. It calls for stronger collaboration between industry, academia and policymakers, and for the integration of digital competencies into hydrogen-related training pathways from an early stage. By doing so, countries can not only avoid future skills shortages, but also strengthen their competitiveness in the global clean energy market.