'Technology Attack Plan' launched to fill 60,000 technical vacancies

The plan contains suggestions to completely redesign the labour market for technicians. The new system will be named the Golden Gate. It must become the central place for starters, lateral entrants, newcomers and experienced professionals considering a switch to a (different) technical sector. In cooperation with involved parties - such as trade unions and governments - the Attack Plan should unlock substantial additional investments over the next ten years. The aim is to structurally fill some 60,000 vacancies.'

The Engineering Attack Plan is based on three key principles:

More people must again choose and be retained in engineering. The ambition is to double the intake. In addition, the aim is to keep the outflow to a minimum. This will eventually make it possible to structurally fill 25,000 vacancies a year. The Golden Gate is one of the things the industries are setting up for this purpose.

The Golden Gate must become the central place for starters, lateral entrants, newcomers and experienced professionals. In short, it is the place for those considering a move to a (different) technical sector or wanting to gain further qualifications. The Golden Gate also provides, among other things, (side-)entry routes, guidance and skills-based placement. From there, anyone opting for a job in the relevant sectors is offered 10-year work and development guarantees, among other things. To reduce the existing shortage of technology teachers, the business community will also make 1,000 extra (hybrid) teachers available. And there will be Technology Centres for hybrid vocational courses.

With a productivity offensive, the industries want to ensure more robotisation and digitisation of industry(smart industry. They also want more pre-fab construction and standardisation and more programmatic and serial public procurement. The ambition is to substantially accelerate these transformations. As a result, 25,000 fewer technicians are expected to be needed every year.

The ambition of the cooperating industries is also to get more status holders into work. And to attract more talent from outside (temporarily). A targeted skilled workers scheme should help in this regard. Attracting this talent is estimated to make it possible to structurally fill some 10,000 vacancies a year.

Theo Henrar, chairman FME on the initiative: 'This partnership is a historic breakthrough. Together, we are going to invest heavily in technical education and in the labour market. In this way, we will ensure that working in engineering and technology is attractive'.

Jacco Vonhoff, chairman MKB-Nederland: 'I hope and expect that more industries in the engineering sector will join this plan. The need is high everywhere. Good cooperation and connection with education is and remains important too. Among other things, to do something about the mismatch that often exists between supply and demand.

Fried Kaanen, chairman Koninklijke Metaalunie: 'The importance of good skilled workers is very high for us, as the 'backbone' of the Dutch manufacturing industry. Without enough well-trained professionals, production and supply will be at a lower level. That is bad for the Dutch economy and all the societal challenges ahead. Together we are strong.'

Maxime Verhagen, chairman Bouwend Nederland: 'The unique cooperation with other technical sectors allows us to properly support our supporters in solving labour shortages. Together with trade unions, we will further improve intake and lateral intake. We will ensure that we retain skilled workers for our sector. We also help our construction and civil engineering companies invest in the necessary technological innovations and the deployment of talent from outside the Netherlands. The government can facilitate this. It can do so by tendering more programmatically and enabling experiments with a skilled workers scheme. Together, we will then realise the good ambitions in housing construction and energy transition.'

Maarten Otto, chairman WENB: 'No sustainable roof over our heads without technical talent. The energy transition and housing challenge are in danger of stalling because of the structural shortage of technicians. The energy sector alone will need thousands of extra professionals until 2030. Think of technicians for, among others, the expansion and reinforcement of energy infrastructure, the construction of wind farms and the installation of heat pumps, solar panels and charging stations. That is why we are joining forces to attract and retain more technical talent. That way, we jointly tackle the shortage of 60,000 technicians in the Netherlands'.