Winning the war for talent

The intake from technical education is silting up. Despite all efforts around STEM and dual learning, we are not succeeding in attracting more young people to technology. This is a great shame because our sector is in dire need of skilled technical staff to realize its climate ambitions. As an industry we must therefore strike a mea culpa and do more to 'sell' ourselves. But the government can also shift up a gear (and be smarter) to help pull the cart.

If the STEM story is not catching on with the youth, we need to advertise our craft more ourselves. After all, we cannot wait until it starts raining electricians, programmers, engineers or data analysts. We desperately need technical profiles of all levels today and tomorrow to help solve challenges we face as a society. And there is much to promote: no professional field is evolving faster than that of automation and digitization. It is more than tinkering with machines in oil-stained overalls. We are high-tech and we must dare to show it. It is up to us as technology partners to bring the latest innovations into schools and give young people a taste of the future.

In addition, we must do well with those scarce talents who choose us. 'Employer branding' may be a buzzword, but the core message is important. Even for the technology sector. After all, everyone working full-time spends more time at work than at home. Or better at work, because we need to embrace hybrid working. Not only that, actually, we need to do everything we can so that our employees feel good about themselves and their jobs. As an employer, you can really make a difference in that. It's not just about pay and creating a good work-life balance, make sure they can get satisfaction from their job by focusing on lifelong learning. 

But school "learning" must also improve. The new curricula are too far from reality and practice. The government needs to engage more in direct dialogue with the technology industry. What is needed? What can we do? During Hannover Messe, whether it is an election year or not, the German Chancellor drops by. Unfortunately, we don't see that at Indumation. While there we as an industry show how well we can work together. There are plenty of initiatives that prove that it can be done. The government must therefore also look within itself to give innovation and technology every opportunity. After all, our technology companies are the key to ensuring our prosperity.

So it will have to come from all of us. From 101 small initiatives, from a sector that pulls together on the same sail, from a government that supports us as well as possible. But above all, let's also continue to take refuge in technology. Automation and digitalization are powerful tools to assist employees in their daily work. To do more with less, without putting more tension on the tightrope. Above all, let's keep investing in that.