Enlit Europe’s report, Making it Work: Tackling the Energy Transition Workforce Challenge, delves into the pressing need for a skilled workforce to drive Europe’s energy transition. It highlights that the shift towards renewable energy, digitalisation, and decarbonisation demands significant upskilling and reskilling efforts. The report underscores that this challenge cannot be addressed by the energy sector alone; it requires a collaborative approach involving public and private sectors, educational institutions, and training providers.
Key findings from the report include:
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Workforce Demand Surge: The energy transition is expected to create up to 350,000 new manufacturing jobs and require at least 500,000 installers to meet targets like REPowerEU’s heat pump initiative.
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Skills Gap: A significant portion of the current workforce lacks the necessary skills to meet future demands, with many employees uncertain about accessing relevant training opportunities.
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Funding Challenges: While public sector initiatives like the European Social Fund Plus and the Just Transition Fund exist, 65% of respondents believe that European politicians do not sufficiently recognise the employment opportunities of the energy transition.
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Collaborative Solutions: The report advocates for partnerships between private organisations, non-profits, and governments to design innovative solutions. Examples include Siemens’ SiTecSkills Academy and Iberdrola’s Global Green Employment platform, both of which blend public and private funding to provide technical training aligned with evolving industry demands.
For a comprehensive understanding of these challenges and potential solutions, you can access the full report on Enlit Europe’s website.
