Brussels/Zurich, 13 January 2026 – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and the Adecco Group unveil “The race to reskill: Speeding up the European automotive workforce transition”, a comprehensive new report mapping the urgent transformation of Europe’s automotive workforce and providing actionable solutions for employers, policymakers and regional ecosystems.
The comprehensive analysis, which evaluates regional readiness across the European automotive ecosystem, finds that the shift to electrification and digitalization is fundamentally altering skills requirements: rapidly increasing demand for expertise in areas including software engineering, battery technology and advanced data analytics. By 2035, the sector will see a marked shift toward high-skilled engineering, IT and management roles. Crucially, while jobs requiring medium and low skills – such as metalworkers, clerks, and traditional craft roles – are projected for structural decline, the industry is simultaneously facing acute, immediate skill shortages in these very areas due to replacement demand and an aging workforce.
However, the study identifies a major vulnerability: a widespread failure to translate strategic skills needs into local, actionable workforce plans. The report reveals that HR management across many regional ecosystems is predominantly reactive, leading to significant internal inefficiencies and a heightened risk of unnecessary worker displacement. Crucially, while companies are focusing on new curricula, many are overlooking the operational elements vital for a successful transition. These “blind spots” include: (....)