Driving Transformation: Talent development in automotive regions

The workshop, entitled ‘Driving Transformation: Talent Development in Automotive Regions’, explored the rapid pace of change in the European automotive industry and its impact on workforce development. The event was organised by the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA), the Automotive Skills Alliance (ASA) and the Committee of the Regions' Automotive Intergroup (CoRAI). Discussions centred on the urgent need to support and guide the automotive industry in its transition to sustainable practices and digital technologies. The workshop emphasised the retraining of the workforce, the role of vocational training, public-private partnerships and the importance of industrial and social policy at EU level.

Key Messages by Speakers

1. Petr Dolejsi (Director of Mobility and Sustainable Transport at ACEA and Vice President of the Automotive Skills Alliance)

• Twin Transformation: Dolejsi highlighted that the automotive industry is experiencing a du-al transformation—shifts to greener technologies and digitalisation. He argued that alt-hough most attention is on the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), the digital aspect, such as integrating AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), is equally critical.
• Global Competition & Speed: He stressed the need for European regions to act quickly to remain competitive against countries like China and the US. He expressed concern that Eu-ropean bureaucratic processes might hinder the speed required to adapt and innovate.
• Local and Practical Approaches: Dolejsi underscored the importance of regional action, stat-ing that most automotive workers are tied to their local regions. He suggested informal pathways for training that can quickly adapt to changing needs without waiting for formal certifications or EU-level approvals.

2. Judith Kirton-Darling (General Secretary of IndustriALL Europe)

• Just Transition Framework: Kirton-Darling advocated for a comprehensive EU-level frame-work to ensure a "just transition" that protects workers’ rights and prevents large-scale re-dundancies. She argued that reskilling must go beyond training and address broader em-ployment and social issues.
• Workers' Anxiety and Structural Change: She pointed out the widespread anxiety among automotive workers due to restructuring and potential job losses. Kirton-Darling empha-sised that although the automotive industry has seen record profits, these gains are not reaching workers who face significant challenges due to the transition.
• Best Practices & Investment: She highlighted the need for best practices across regions and called for substantial investments in training, infrastructure, and workforce transformation to meet the demands of a greener economy. Kirton-Darling also suggested that Europe could look to policies like the US Inflation Reduction Act, which ties industry support to so-cial and employment conditions.

3. Minister Carmen Maestu (Regional Minister for Social Rights, Social Economy, and Employment, Government of Navarra)

• Vocational Training & Employment Opportunities: Maestu emphasised that vocational training is crucial for providing the skills necessary for the evolving automotive sector. She noted that Navarra has one of the highest employability rates for vocational graduates, re-flecting the region's commitment to workforce development.
• Social Recognition and Inclusivity: She discussed efforts to raise the status of vocational training and attract more young people, particularly women, to the sector. She also noted that collaboration with industry and educational institutions is vital to adapting training pro-grams to meet industry needs.
• Commitment to E-Mobility: Maestu outlined Navarra’s investments in electric mobility, in-cluding tax incentives for electric vehicle purchases and establishing partnerships with technology centres. She emphasised that public policy must support the industry’s sustain-ability goals and employment security.

4. Minister Thomas Schmidt (Minister for Regional Development, Free State of Saxony)

• European Cohesion & Collaboration: Schmidt underscored the importance of a European, rather than a national, perspective on the transformation. He highlighted the need for EU-level policies that offer stable, long-term support for the automotive industry.
• Support for Regions & Workforce Diversification: Schmidt highlighted Saxony’s initiatives to support workforce transformation, including collaboration with local institutions and vo-cational schools and creating a Semiconductor Academy for retraining. He stressed that such projects are essential to help workers transition into new sectors, such as microelec-tronics.
• Flexibility in Policy Implementation: He emphasised that European regions need more flexibility to implement climate and industrial policies tailored to their needs. He called for policies that are not overly prescriptive, allowing regions to innovate and implement chang-es at a pace that matches technological advancements.

The workshop concluded with a call for continued collaboration and a commitment to developing a skilled, adaptable workforce to meet the challenges posed by technological and environmental transformations in the automotive sector.