Dire shortage of new vehicle engineering personnel

30,000 people employed in vehicle engineering

The vehicle technology industry employs about 30,000 people in the Netherlands. It is an industry that is changing at lightning speed, in part because of the electrification of the vehicle fleet. Vehicle engineering is essential to keep the Dutch economy running. But there is a problem: There is an acute shortage of new staff. That has to change.

1,700 companies in vehicle technology

Over 1,700 companies that are members of FOCWA (trade association for bodyshops), RAI CarrosserieNL, VACO (trade association for the tire and wheel industry) and Training and Development Fund for the Body Shop (OOC) are therefore joining forces during the “Vehicle Technology Days. During these days, the doors of their workshops are simultaneously opened to introduce potential workers to the trade. The “Vehicle Engineering Days” will start immediately and run until the end of February 2023.

Special website

Through the campaign website datiseengave.nl, interested parties can easily make a digital appointment at a workshop near them. Because of the many affiliated companies, there is always a cool workshop nearby for every visitor. Here young people or other interested parties can get an education while earning money right away or better yet; find a cool job that really suits them. Are you visiting a company? Then you’ll also have a chance to win a PlayStation 5, Playseat Evolution racing chair and other cool prizes!

Vehicle Engineering Days

FOCWA, RAI CarrosserieNL, VACO and OOC have joined forces since 2021 to get people excited about working within the sector. That year, they launched the successful campaign “Vehicle engineering, it’s a gift! Young people got to see everything around vehicle technology online last year. About 1.3 million people were reached by the campaign.

The “Vehicle Engineering Days” is the sequel to this. Now interested parties can actually see their future workplace and talk to potential employers and colleagues. The innovative nature of working in the bodywork, body repair and tire and wheel industry is the focus.

View of the workplace increases enthusiasm

VACO social affairs and HR manager Erwin Holterhues describes why it is so important to focus on working in vehicle technology. “We find that when young people and their parents look into a business they often leave very excited. They were pleasantly surprised by the versatility of the work and the modern techniques used. With the entry of electric (cargo) cars, among other things, working on these vehicles requires new and different skills. Influx of young professionals and women is essential.  The demand for new employees is high and badly needed to keep the Netherlands rolling into the future.”  

Research this year among members of FOCWA and RAI CarrosserieNL shows that adequate staffing is one of the bigger challenges for 74 percent of companies.