Danish Metal and Danish Industry are now trying to call out the politicians to get the lack of skilled workers into the election campaign.
The context for the joint call is that, towards 2030, Denmark will lack 116,000 hands in the industry alone if Denmark is to succeed in reducing CO2 emissions by 70 per cent in 2030. Half will be skilled blacksmiths and mechanics, and they are already in short supply in companies.
No green transition without skilled workers
– The numbers speak for themselves. We will not reach the goal of the green transition if we lack more than 50,000 skilled employees to build the future wind turbines, says Lars Sandahl Sørensen, CEO of DI.
Vocational schools and the lack of skilled workers take up little space in the election campaign. That should change, DI and Dansk Metal believe.
Investments in vocational training
– The politicians have made many good and necessary agreements for Denmark to become a leading green country. But it’s just not enough because we lack all those who have to bring the ambitions to life. Unfortunately, the truth is that it will not be possible to make the green transition in Denmark if we do not get a substantial increase in skilled workers. It requires massive investments in vocational education and politicians who dare to confront the disparities that exist in the education sector. It should take up much more space in the election campaign, says Claus Jensen, chairman of Dansk Metal.
Occupancy decreased 20 per cent
Unfortunately, there is no prospect of reforms in the field of education that would ensure a more balanced labour market. At the same time, a new sampling among the technical schools shows a significant decrease in the number of apprentices – admissions to the second part of the basic course have fallen by 20 per cent in just one year. This is why Danish Industry and Danish Metal believe that the development calls for resolute political action.
Requires political action
– We completely agree with the trade union movement that the problem requires resolute political action. Getting your blacksmith’s certificate takes several years, but the lack of employees is already causing significant cracks in society. Therefore, it is crucial that we make substantial efforts if Denmark is to solve the future climate challenges, says Lars Sandahl Sørensen.
