1This section examines workforce dynamics and the skills needed to unlock the transformative potential of AI for a sustainable transition. The articles highlight the significant role of AI in reshaping workforce and collaboration but also in driving the twin transitions toward sustainability and digital transformation.

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2Rosie Hood focuses on sustainability and AI as a twin transition and how the two are interacting to evolve both workforces. She examines workforce trends in sustainable AI, emphasizing the importance of developing green skills among AI professionals and the workforce that supports AI’s growth. This article emphasizes the importance of developing “green skills” within the AI workforce, particularly in sectors such as energy efficiency, climate solutions, and resource management. It also discusses workforce trends in sustainable AI, underlining the importance of developing both technical AI skills and an understanding of sustainability to bridge the gap between technological expertise and sustainability goals. By analyzing workforce trends, the author highlights the necessity of targeted training and upskilling to prepare workers for this transformation and enable them to apply AI technologies to foster a sustainable future. Additionally, AI is seen as a key driver in accelerating the growth of the green economy, with the potential to significantly advance sustainability goals. The article also underscores the need for clear sustainability standards to ensure that AI development aligns with sustainability objectives.

3Nanjira Sambuli shifts the focus to the implications of AI on Africa’s workforce. Africa’s youthful population, combined with the increasing diffusion of AI technologies, presents both opportunities and challenges. Sambuli argues that Africa doesn’t have a skills issue; rather, it has a jobs issue. The labor market requires more than just upskilling— it needs a broader systemic transformation that addresses both formal and informal job creation. She critiques the common narrative that simply upskilling Africa’s population will solve its employment challenges, urging for policy reorientation that tackles the structural barriers hindering entrepreneurship and enterprise growth. Sambuli calls for a more nuanced approach that integrates AI into both formal and informal sectors, ensuring that AI enhances productivity and creates meaningful, sustainable jobs for Africa’s rapidly expanding workforce. She emphasizes that the risk of an AI divide will not be due to a lack of skills, but because public policy and governance misdiagnosed the problem, failing to create the conditions for job creation and economic growth.

4Morgane Vidal, Anne du Crest and Melanie Macé examine the profound impact AI is having on jobs and skills at Veolia. The article discusses how AI is transforming jobs, not just by automating tasks but also by changing the way people work and interact. In the face of this transformation, Veolia has launched an ambitious training strategy targeting 100% of employees by 2027, aiming to equip them with the necessary skills to support AI integration. The article also highlights the challenges posed by the integration of AI in the workplace, including the need to preserve collaborative dynamics and manage AI’s impact on employee well-being. The article emphasizes the importance of continuous training and proactive engagement with employees to prepare them for these changes, ensuring that AI can be effectively integrated into Veolia’s operations while fostering a culture of collaboration and sustainability.

5The perspectives in this section illustrate how workforce readiness is emerging as a foundational enabler of AI’s contribution to a sustainable transition. Across the articles, the authors emphasize the dual need for technical competence and sustainability-related expertise, highlighting that green skills and AI skills must develop in tandem to meet evolving industry demands. They also draw attention to regional and sectoral differences. Together, these analyses underscore that unlocking AI’s full potential requires not only upskilling but also broader systemic support to ensure workers can meaningfully engage with AI and help drive sustainable outcomes.