Europe’s Automotive Workforce Faces a Skills Turning Point
Europe’s automotive industry is under pressure as electrification and digitalisation reshape how vehicles are designed and built. As manufacturers move toward zero-emission and software-led models, workers across the sector face the biggest skills shift in decades.
A new joint report from ACEA and the Adecco Group warns that without fast and coordinated reskilling, Europe risks deeper skills shortages and avoidable job losses.
Skills and Competitiveness Are Now Linked
According to ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries, the transition goes far beyond technology. Instead, it represents a challenge to Europe’s industrial strength, skills base, and long-term competitiveness.
She stressed that keeping jobs, value chains, and innovation in Europe requires a long-range approach. This approach must connect regions, industry, and education through sector-focused solutions.
Importantly, the report calls for a shift away from reactive responses. It urges the industry to adopt proactive workforce planning and scale initiatives such as the Automotive Skills Alliance.
Electrification Drives Demand for High-Skill Roles
The report shows that by 2035, Europe’s automotive workforce will shift toward highly skilled roles. Engineering, IT, and management positions will become more central to production.
At the same time, demand for software engineering, battery expertise, and data analytics continues to rise. These skills reflect the move toward electric and digitally connected vehicles.
However, many medium and low-skilled roles face long-term decline. These include metalworking, clerical work, and traditional crafts.
Paradoxically, employers still face immediate shortages in these roles. An ageing workforce and replacement needs have created a short-term skills crunch that cannot be ignored.
Reactive HR Practices Increase Risk
Despite clear signals, many companies struggle to turn strategy into action. As a result, workforce planning often fails at the local level.
The report highlights several gaps. For example, firms rarely use production downtime for training. In addition, regional partners often work in isolation. Workplace cultures also lag behind the need for internal mobility.
Consequently, workers face uncertainty and a higher risk of displacement during the transition.
Regional Differences Complicate the Transition
The transformation will not affect all regions equally. Some automotive hubs face sharper employment declines than others.
Southern Germany, Central Bohemia, West Slovakia, and West Sweden are expected to lose jobs. In contrast, northern Spain could see growth.
Therefore, the report stresses the need for regional strategies rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
Automotive Skills Implementation Toolkit
To address these challenges, ACEA and Adecco have introduced the Automotive Skills Implementation Toolkit. This framework supports HR leaders and policymakers with practical guidance.
The toolkit promotes proactive workforce planning and encourages employers to use non-production periods for reskilling. It also calls for cultural change to support career mobility.
At the regional level, stakeholders should focus on demand-driven training and clear job-to-job pathways. Meanwhile, policymakers must ensure stable support for lifelong learning programmes.
A Race to Secure the Future
Adecco Group CEO Denis Machuel described the shift to electric vehicles as a full workforce transformation, not a gradual change. He noted that the main challenge is not training content, but execution.
If companies and policymakers fail to act together, Europe risks losing skilled workers and manufacturing capacity. However, with coordinated action, the sector can remain strong.
By reskilling its 13 million automotive workers, Europe can secure a resilient and competitive future. Ultimately, the report makes clear that the electrification race will be won by those who move quickly and plan ahead
