The Impact of Green Training on Workforce Behavior, Environmental Performance, and Reputation: A European Study

The challenges of digitization, the green transition, and demographic trends in Europe have significantly impacted the labor market. In particular the request of green talent from the demand side has grown enormously, making mandatory to reskill and upskill the workforce to address the green skill gap. In this scenario employees’ green training, a key element of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM), has become fundamental to align employers requests and employees working profile availability. This study examines the impact of green training for the existing workforce in the European business context, focusing on its influence on the green working climate and its mediating role in enhancing firms' environmental performance and green reputation, enabling organizations to anticipate green trends, driving the transition. The paper explores the role of green training through an online survey, focused on the agri-food, construction, manufacturing, wood and furniture industries, and public administration, strategic sectors within Europe. Findings indicate that green training positively contributes to fostering a green working climate within the surveyed European firms, reinforcing the importance of structured training programs in supporting sustainability-oriented business practices. Moreover the study indicates that green working climate positively impacts on firm environmental performance and green reputation.