In the battery industry, some 85,000 jobs are in jeopardy. The solar manufacturing sector accounts for nearly 59,000 jobs affected by market pressures, while low-carbon measures could affect another 4,500 positions in the steel industry.
The concerns reflect a broader debate in Brussels about whether Europe is losing ground in strategic industries to rivals like China and the United States, despite plans to boost domestic manufacturing.
Boosting skills
At the same time, employers across the bloc continue to report difficulties in finding workers with the right qualifications.
According to the Commission’s figures, 68 percent of medium-sized companies reported skills shortages in 2023. By 2024, 77 percent of firms said labor and skills shortages were acting as a barrier to investment.
The findings reinforce the central message of this semester package: Economic resilience increasingly depends on investing in human capital.
For the first time, the EU recommendations accompanying the package will include a dedicated focus on putting education, vocational training, adult learning, STEM skills and reskilling closer to the heart of the EU’s economic governance framework.