How to upskill Europe’s workers with outplacement

The European labour market is changing at a rapid pace, with increasing demand for staff in the green and technology sectors while more traditional sectors are in decline. Due to this shift, it means upskilling and retraining employees and job seekers is even more important in order to fill these gaps.

This is where outplacement providers across Europe, such as Careerminds, come in. These services judge the mood of the labour market and respond appropriately. If trends lean more towards the green and tech sectors, this is where dismissed employees need to focus – with outplacement providing the necessary tools .

In this blog, you’ll learn more about the changing trends in the labour market, the challenges that are facing job seekers and employers, and how outplacement services can provide comprehensive support.

Across the globe, the labour market is going through a transition. Demand for workers in the sustainable and technology sectors is growing, while layoffs are happening across, what is seen as, the more traditional sectors. Why is this?

Over the past few decades, we have seen technology develop faster than the speed of light. These technological developments are causing a shift in job requirements worldwide, especially in automation and artificial intelligence (AI). But, while some tech areas are expanding, others are becoming obsolete – often in the blink of an eye.

As such, the tech sector has suffered major layoffs. Nearly 2,000 technology companies across the world laid off over 260,000 employees in 2023. The following year – 2024 – saw 81,000 technology workers made redundant or laid off.

It all comes down to affected employees receiving the relevant training. An SCMR study, commissioned by Careerminds, reveals that outplacement services are crucial for this. They can provide career guidance and the right training to support technology professionals throughout their career transitions.

While tech roles are on the rise, at a European level, the focus is on sustainability. The European Green Deal is committed to:

• Being the first continent to be climate neutral, with the target being by 2050.
• Boosting the European economy by creating green technology and sustainable industries.

The rising demand for green technology is reshaping labour markets across Europe. Sectors including waste management and renewable energy are on the up, while industries such as refined petroleum and mining, viewed as environmentally unfriendly, are experiencing a drastic fall in employment.

Employees in these shrinking sectors need to be retrained in order to find their way in the new sustainable sector.

Advances on the medical side mean that people in Europe are living healthier and longer lives. Great news, of course, but as a result, this has major consequences for businesses and society as a whole.

Some figures at a glance:

• The percentage of people aged over 65 in Europe will represent 30% of the total population by 2050, up from the current figure of 20%. In the UK, similar is true with those aged over 65 increasing from 7.5 million in 1972 to 12.7 million in 2022, with a projected figure of 22.1 million by 2072, which would amount to 27% of the population.
• The number of young people aged between 15 and 29 decreased from 18.1% in 2011 to 16.3% in 2021, with this trend continuing on a downward slope, especially in rural areas.

An ageing population means employees have to combine work with caring for their elders. For example, many employees act as informal caregivers due to shortages in healthcare personnel, which in turn requires a more flexible attitude from both employers and workers.

On top of that, there’s an ever-growing group of more mature employees needing additional training to keep up with the changing labour market.

The rise of the gig economy has consequences for the labour market. A gig economy is where people work freelance or on a project basis, with the shift towards this showing that the traditional 9 to 5 role is becoming less and less normal.

The benefits of outplacement services is that they deliver help to employees making career transitions from the more traditional industries to the flourishing green and technology sectors, all via teaching new skills or retraining.

Training in these new technologies and emerging sectors, such as IT and AI, must be prioritised. Outplacement providers, like Careerminds, focus on intensive, short-term programmes so that employees who have been made redundant can return to work quickly, all set with a back-pack full of new skills for improved prospects.

The growing gig economy, already mentioned, is changing outplacement offerings, with more emphasis being paid to dismissed employees wanting to freelance, start their own business, or seek out contract work on a short-term basis.

The Careerminds report shows that the green and technology sectors have a major influence on the outplacement market in Europe, especially across the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. 

Check out the current trends per country:

The UK government is aiming to create 2 million green jobs by 2030, with an increasing amount of workers upskilled in green technologies. Many British companies have had to restructure because of Brexit, especially in sectors that rely heavily on European supply chains and trade, such as manufacturing, automotive, and financial services. Many UK financial services companies moved their activities to the EU, resulting in job losses and an increase in demand for outplacement.

• UK companies that face skills shortages are investing in upskilling or reskilling employees, with UK outplacement providers responding by offering training in new skills.
• Brexit requires a digital transformation across all sectors, which is why outplacement services include upskilling initiatives that prepare employees for technology-driven roles.

There is a lot of demand for talent in the green sector in France, with the French GreenTech ecosystem growing significantly. 1,800 start-ups generated €3bn in annual revenue in 2021 and created more than 60,000 jobs.

• Outplacement providers in France tailor their services to the differing needs of sectors that have been hit hard by layoffs, such as the automotive and chemical sectors, by including sector-specific upskilling and retraining programmes.
• French outplacement providers target specific demographic groups in order to achieve greater inclusivity, such as programmes aimed at retraining and transferring older employees. In this way, age discrimination is proactively tackled.

Dutch employment opportunities are changing, with a greater need for staff that possess knowledge and skills in renewable energy and environmental technologies. Due to changing market demand, many outplacement companies adapt their working methods, offering further digital training and access to networks in the technology sector. For younger job seekers, outplacement focuses on building skills and networking, while for older employees, the emphasis is on age-friendly training and career advice.

• Many Dutch outplacement providers offer training in digital literacy, sustainability, and skills in the field of remote work.
• The Dutch government and public sector actively support civil servants wanting to transfer to other roles or departments, using outplacement for retraining or further training.

Germany leads in green technological innovation, meaning the country needs workers who are familiar with these technologies. As a big player in the automotive industry, Germany has employees with highly specialised technical skills such as mechanical engineering, robotics, and vehicle technology, who might find it problematic to transfer to other fields. German outplacement providers offer tailor-made services to help these professionals find work where they can capitalise on their unique skills.

• The German IT sector has grown significantly, and with it the demand for skills in software development, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Industry-specific outplacement services help IT industry participants explore jobs that require their expertise.
• Personal branding is increasingly relevant in a digital-heavy labour market, with German outplacement providers teaching candidates how to build a professional online presence, so candidates can showcase their unique strengths and build a network effectively.

A labour market transitioning towards the green and technological sectors is taking place across many countries. Because of this, further training and retraining of employees is required, and employers can play a major role in retaining talent. 

If there is no alternative to layoffs, outplacement providers focus on developing essential skills and retraining job seekers, so these workers can find a suitable position in the changing labour market. 

Would you like to know more about the outplacement process and what it can offer to your employees and your organisation? If so, contact us at the earliest opportunity to find out more. 

If you would like to read the entire Careerminds outplacement report after this article, download it here.