3rd ICAI 2024

International Conference on Automotive Industry 2024

Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic

This article aims to address these shortcomings by posing a research question “How does the transition to sustainable practices such as electromobility in the automotive sector impact workforce skill requirements, and what are the effectiveness and challenges of current reskilling and upskilling strategies in addressing these evolving needs?” By utilizing in-depth, semi-structured interviews with L&D experts from the automotive industry to garner insights into the effectiveness and challenges of existing strategies for workforce development in the context of electromobility. Additionally, by giving voice to the automotive line workers, this research seeks to highlight the concerns and experiences of those most at risk of job displacement or skill mismatch. The inclusion of these firsthand perspectives is crucial for developing a comprehensive understanding of the transition’s impact on the workforce and for identifying gaps in current reskilling and upskilling efforts. Through this approach, the study aspires to offer targeted recommendations for education and training programs that can better support Just Transition efforts for workers and ensure the automotive sector’s competitive and sustainable advancement into a more sustainable era. 2. Literature Overview The discourse on green growth advocates for selective growth, emphasizing the transition towards eco-friendly technologies, production methods, and strategies. The goal is to address the climate crisis while continuing to support economic development. (EC 2019); (Felli 2014); (Mastini et al. 2021). The impact of the transition to more sustainable practices and electromobility on job demand and employment is mixed, according to various studies. Some research, such as a study by the Institute for Employment Research, predicts significant job losses— nearly 114,000 jobs by 2035, which would increase the unemployed population by 10%. The shift to electromobility is expected to particularly affect the supplier industry, where labor requirements for component manufacturing are higher (Mönnig et al., 2019). The European Skills Agenda (COM, 2020) outlines strategies for re-skilling and up skilling workers, which are crucial in the face of the dual challenges of digital and green transitions. These transitions are expected to significantly alter the needs of EU industries. Without proper support, this could result in a mismatch of skills in the workforce, leading to high unemployment rates, particularly in the automotive sector. 2.1 Just Transition Framework Incorporating the concept of a Just Transition is essential in managing the automotive industry’s shift. Just Transition ensures that the move to a more sustainable economy is fair and inclusive, minimizing hardships for workers and communities (Galgoczi, 2019); (Gažo et. al, 2022); (Keil, 2021); (Kreinin, 2020); (Morena et al. 2020); (Newell & Mulvaney, 2013); (Stevis & Felli, 2020); (Velicu & Barca, 2020); (White, 2020); (Švejdarová, 2023) as it emphasizes the need for social and economic justice while transitioning to a more sustainable future. In the article, we articulate our understanding of the concept of Just Transition as a broad and encompassing framework. This framework prioritizes a wholistic and inclusive approach, aiming to

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