The last day of electronica 2010, i.e. November 12, 2010, will be devoted to the promotion of future professionals: 26 exhibitors will provide 260 interested school students from Years 12 and 13 with insights into the occupational field of electronics and will explain about career opportunities in a wide range of engineering disciplines. A podium discussion entitled “Electronics world of work 2020 – opportunity or risk” was held beforehand on November 10, 2010 during the electronica Forum. This podium discussion described the future opportunities in one of the world’s most varied and dynamic labor markets. Leading companies in the industry discussed the changes in the occupational field and possible employment models in the coming years.
A large number of futurologists are predicting a fundamental restructuring of labor markets up to the year 2020. The number of self-employed persons and project workers will increase in many future scenarios, while the number of permanent employees will decline. The first indications of this development can now already be seen on many labor markets, and the electronics industry is also dependent to a certain extent on flexible employment relationships. How will this development continue, and how can workers act successfully in such an environment? What framework must the industry itself create for its employees?
Electronics world of work 2020 – opportunity or risk
The questions of the future of the labor market were illuminated on November 10, 2010 during the discussion entitled “Electronics world of work 2020 – opportunity or risk” in the “electronica Forum“ of electronica 2010. The discussion was chaired by Christine Demmer, a publicist and freelance journalist. The participants in the discussion, which was organized by SchuhEder Consulting GmbH, Baldham, were Susanne Delmer, HR Director Central Europe, Arrow Central Europe GmbH, Dreieich, Sandra Hoffmann, Bertrand AG, Ehningen, Holger Schienbein, VP Human Resources, Elmos Semiconductor AG, Dortmund, Barbara Graf, Director HR International, Leoni Special Cables GmbH, Friesoythe and Michael Köhler, a human resources consultant and co-shareholder of SchuhEder Consulting GmbH.
New portents on the future labor market
Future developments will provide employers and employees with new opportunities, but will also call for greater responsibility. “In future employees must be much more aware of their strengths and their requirements relating to a new job and a potential employer. This will also include the consideration of working on a freelance basis or becoming self-employed. More flexible working employment relationships will also offer major advantages regarding individual freedom and possible professional experiences to people who want to make use of them and can reconcile them with their life planning“, said Renate Schuh-Eder, Managing Director & founder of the SchuhEder Consulting GmbH, Baldham, the organizer of the podium discussion. With her online career portal semica she is a partner of electronica 2010.
Christine Demmer, publicist, freelance journalist and chair of the podium discussion, also sees, however, new challenges for employers: “In view of an increasing number of flexible employment relationships, employers cannot just demand – also on account of the increasing shortage of skilled workers – flexibility from one side. In return, companies must also offer employees incentives to enter into suitable employment relationships. This will also include the creation of an attractive working environment and the willingness to provide flexible offers regarding working hours and telework opportunities.“
Future professionals for one of the world’s largest industries
electronica 2010, however, is also committed to the promotion of future professionals and introducing them to the occupational field of electronics. Together with 26 exhibitors, the trade fair will welcome on Friday, November 12, 2010 260 school students from Years 12 and 12 to the electronica Forum in Hall A3 in order to give them an insight into the electronics industry during the Future Professionals’ Day. Both the companies and the trade fair will provide information on training opportunities and career paths in the electronics industry. During the subsequent visit to exhibition stands, the senior high-school students will be able to talk directly to trainees, apprentices and young engineers, and therefore obtain information at first hand.
In the knowledge course next to the electronica Forum groups of school students will show their project work and the sponsors of the Future Professionals‘ Day will present experiments relating to the work area of electrical engineering. The Future Professionals’ Day will be rounded off by a prize draw for two electric scooters and ten net books which are being sponsored by the Digi-Key Corporation, Thief River Falls. The Future Professionals’ Day is part of the Young People’s Initiative “Superstudium.de” of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI), Frankfurt am Main.
Vocational education measures also for students and university graduates
In addition to the senior high-school students, 280 other students will have an opportunity on November 12, 2010 to visit the trade fair free of charge to obtain information on career possibilities. The visit to the trade fair will be supplemented by talks on the occupational field of electronics on Stand EO.100 in the East Entrance Hall of Munich Trade Fair Center. Talks will be given on this subject by representatives from Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Freising, Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH, Regensburg, Bertrandt AG, Ehningen, Future Electronics, Surrey, UK, and Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG. Together with the human resources consultants who will be present, the company representatives will describe occupational fields and trainee programs, and will show the different ways to start a career in electronics.