In mid-September, the nominations for the new European Commissioners were announced, with one notable role focusing specifically on People, Skills and Preparedness. This is a significant step forward for European skills policy, recognising it as a central priority within the Union. Skills and competence issues have also been prominently featured in both Draghi and Letta's reports, further emphasising their importance to Europe’s future.
The European chemical industry has grown increasingly concerned about the skills landscape in Europe. Recent data, such as the PISA results from December 2023, revealed a worrying decline in overall areas of skills and competences across many European countries, particularly in the vital fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). These skills are essential for the industry’s continued success in Europe, especially as it works to meet the challenges posed by the Green Deal and the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability. The European chemical industry directly employs 1.2 million people and supplies 90% of Europe’s value chains. In 2021 alone, the industry invested €9,9 billion into research and development (Cefic, 2022).
However, the industry’s future success hinges not only on research and development but also on ensuring that people possess the right skills. Strategic investment is required not only at the R&D level but also much earlier in the education pipeline, particularly in STEM and vocational education We need strategic investment into STEM and vocational education and training (VET). Our ambitious goals for climate neutrality and leadership in the European industrial landscape can only be achieved by investing in young talent today.
Despite this, the conversion around skills and competence often focuses too narrowly on higher education and R&D investment. While this is a valuable metric for evaluating education levels in Europe, it overlooks the crucial role of VET in the industrial ecosystem. For process-based industries, like chemicals, there is a need for skilled workers, process technicians and laboratories. Professionals with a solid STEM foundation cannot be overstated. These individuals must be prepared to navigate an industry that is evolving towards more circular and climate-neutral processes. A broader understanding of the value of high-quality vocational education is needed across Europe, from educators and policymakers to career advisors to industry leaders. There is still much work, but there are also bright spots – such as the “WorldSkills competition” held in Lyon in mid-September, which showcased global vocational talent. By highlighting the diverse career opportunities available in vocational fields, we can inspire more young people to pursue professions within the industrial sector.
Europe is making progress. The mission letter of the Commissioner designates for People, Skills and Preparedness has both a “European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training” and an “Action Plan on STEM Education” high on the agenda. At ECEG we will closely be monitoring both initiatives and are committed to ensuring that the chemical industry remains competitive through a skilled and prepared workforce.
Stay tuned for future discussions on STEM and skills.
Anni Siltanen
Chair, WG Education and Lifelong Learning (LLL)
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