The Sustainable Jobs Fresk: reimagining careers for people and the planet (France)
By SNC (Solidarités Nouvelles face au Chômage)
In a world shaped by ecological disruption and growing inequalities, how can we ensure that everyone has access to meaningful, sustainable work? That question lies at the heart of the Fresque de l’emploi durable, or Sustainable Jobs Fresk, a unique workshop developed and proposed in France by the non-profit organisation Solidarités Nouvelles face au Chômage (SNC).
For more than 40 years, SNC has supported people experiencing unemployment, with over 100,000 individuals accompanied back into work through solidarity-based guidance and counselling. In 2023, SNC took a bold new step by launching the Sustainable Jobs Fresk. It is built on a simple yet radical idea: the jobs of tomorrow must serve both people and the planet. “Our vision is to respond to the challenges of our time, namely the precariousness, ecological emergency, isolation, inequalities, relationship to work, while leaving no one behind,” sais François QUINTREAU, one of the initiators of the creation of the fresk.
A changing world of work
Climate change, biodiversity collapse and rising resource scarcity are no longer distant concerns – they are reshaping the economy and transforming the very nature of work. In France, it is estimated that the ecological transition will eliminate around 300,000 jobs, but create at least 500,000 new ones. This shift is already underway, yet many people – particularly those furthest from the labour market – feel overwhelmed or left behind. The fear of losing one’s job is a powerful obstacle to the transitions that need to be made. “Faced with the climate emergency, it is necessary to provide reassurance, to help people move towards more sustainable careers, and to provide them with social support. The Fresk of Durable Employment offers this space of reassurance and contributes to the impetus for new forms of solidarity and cooperation,” adds François QUINTREAU.
At the same time, the meaning of work is being questioned more widely. Mental health challenges, worsening of work conditions, a loss of purpose, and the rise of “climate anxiety” are affecting growing numbers of workers. The demand for meaningful and sustainable work is real. SNC’s workshop responds to this moment by offering a space to reflect, reconnect, and imagine new paths forward. It is an invitation to rethink what employment can and should be – healthy for individuals, regenerative for society, and compatible with planetary boundaries.
A journey through fiction, dialogue and discovery
The Sustainable Jobs Fresk is a three-hour experience that brings together small groups of participants (12 maximum) to explore how careers can evolve in a world facing ecological and social tipping points. The workshop begins with a card-based activity that invites participants to critically reflect on today’s challenges in the world of work and the connection between employment and environmental degradation. At the core of the workshop is a role-playing exercise. Participants step into the shoes of either a jobseeker or a volunteer career professional and simulate a three-year journey toward a more socially and ecologically sustainable employment. Together, they confront challenges, explore inner doubts and aspirations, and make decisions that echo the dilemmas many real people face. The workshop draws on collective storytelling, shared reflections, and real-world data about labour market transformations. It encourages participants not just to understand the challenges, but to cultivate new imaginaries: visions of work that are both desirable and sustainable.
As one participant put it, “It restored my confidence in my search for a job that makes sense — for me and the planet.” Another, who had experienced burnout in the retail sector, described how the workshop gave her the confidence and support to transition into a job in the social and circular economy. “Now I want to help others do the same,” she says.
More than a workshop: a tool for systemic change
The Sustainable Jobs Workshop has been rolled out across a wide range of settings: schools, job centres, local governments, associations and private companies. It’s been used to support unemployed people, train future guidance professionals, engage CSR teams, and spark conversations about sustainable careers at every level. For organisations, it offers a way to link ecological engagement with career development and social impact. It can also help strengthen team cohesion, raise awareness of just transition challenges, and inspire new ideas for green transformation.
While the full workshop runs for three hours, shorter “flash” versions also exist for awareness-raising sessions. Facilitators can be SNC volunteers or professionals trained and certified to run the workshop in their own communities or workplaces.
Cooperation opportunities
The team behind the Sustainable Jobs Fresk is now looking to expand its reach and connect with like-minded organisations across Europe. The Fresk has been translated to English and we invite career guidance professionals, educators, public employment services to collaborate in adapting the tool to different contexts, to help spread the initiative by becoming a partner.
To learn more or get involved, out to the project team at info@green-guidance.eu.