The workshop “Driving Transformation: Talent Development in Automotive Regions” took place during the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024, focusing on critical workforce challenges in the automotive sector. The session aimed to address the need to attract talent, focusing on youth involvement, and finding innovative solutions for reskilling and upskilling workers to meet the demands of the industry.
Held on 9 October in Brussels, the workshop was co-organized by the Automotive Skills Alliance (ASA), the Representation of the Free State of Saxony to the EU, the Committee of the Regions’ Automotive Intergroup (CoRAI), and the Automotive Regions Alliance. The event gathered key stakeholders to discuss the urgent need for workforce transformation in the context of the green and digital transitions.
The political perspective was represented by Carmen Maeztu, Regional Minister for Social Rights, Social Economy, and Employment of the Government of Navarre, and Thomas Schmidt, Minister for Regional Development of the Free State of Saxony and Chair of CoRAI. They emphasized the importance of vocational training, workforce inclusivity, and regional flexibility in driving the transformation of the automotive sector, while highlighting the need for collaboration at both the regional and European levels.
From a cross-sectoral perspective, Judith Kirton-Darling, General Secretary of IndustriALL Europe, and Petr Dolejsi, Vice-President of ASA and Director for Mobility & Sustainable Transport at ACEA, stressed the need for collaboration between industry, education providers, and regional authorities. They pointed out the importance of ensuring a just transition for workers across Europe through coordinated efforts in talent development.
Judith Kirton-Darling, emphasized the need for a clear industrial plan alongside the Green Deal, with a focus on the social aspects of workforce transformation. She called for substantial investments to support a just transition for workers and urged Europe to be more ambitious in addressing structural weaknesses in the industry, while reshaping the perception of the automotive sector to attract future talent.
Petr Dolejsi emphasized the need for ASA to move quickly in line with industry priorities. He explained that ASA is bringing stakeholders together to ensure that regions, which bear the cost of reskilling and upskilling, can implement these programs effectively. Furthermore, he stressed that educational pathways need to be developed quickly to benefit both regions and workers, always keeping the best interests of workers in mind.
Background:
This high-level political workshop was organized within the European Week of Regions and Cities – the largest annual event dedicated to regional policy.
The recording of the workshop is available on the #EURegionsWeek website.
For more information contact: mp@skills-alliance.eu
