An analysis of the activities of the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) at the Industry Climate Table reveals that the number of available positions for professions essential for promoting sustainability in the industry has more than doubled in the past seven years, reaching nearly 51,000 in the second quarter of 2023.
With 30 percent of the national CO2 emissions attributed to it, the Dutch industry faces a significant challenge in terms of sustainability. This requires a substantial workforce, for which there is currently a shortage of available workers for all these professions.
Suzanne IJzerman, labor market advisor at UWV, stated, “Even aside from climate concerns, there is already a high demand for these skilled professionals. Additionally, there is a relatively large number of individuals in their 60s in the industry who will soon reach retirement age and exit the labor market. Furthermore, there is a decline in student enrollment in relevant vocational and higher education programs. The number of open vacancies has more than doubled in seven years, reaching nearly 51,000 in the second quarter of 2023.”
Program Line 6: Education and Human Capital
With the labor market’s tightness and the limited supply of engineers, the development of educational programs focused on the technical and societal climate transition in the chemical sector is crucial. Brightsite contributes by training the engineer of the future and strengthening the pool of technical workforce in the region. A concrete example is the Bachelor’s program in Circular Engineering in collaboration with Maastricht University and the development of higher-level study programs, including preparation for a Master’s degree.