Esbjerg has been chosen for this important meeting because a successful green transition is taking place in the port of Esbjerg.
Analysis show that for every 1 billion euro invested in wind energy, we will need around 5.000 work year equivalents. So, if the cost of an energy island is around 30 billion euros, we will need 150.000 work years. That is the same as 15.000 jobs for 10 years.
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Skilled workers will be the heroes
This means that we need to invest in education. And we need to convince people to choose or re-train for vocational educations and skilled jobs. Skilled workers will be the frontline workers and heroes of the green transition.
And already, different initiatives are taking place to meet with the demand for skilled labour. Jakob Lykke, chairman of 3F’s transport group (the United Federation of Danish Workers) in Esbjerg, is involved in the process. He helps workers to get the relevant skills to contest the new jobs that come with the green transition.
So, we are always ahead, and that is why we do not have labor shortages in Esbjerg. You cannot start retraining workers, when the jobs are already here
“When big companies want to establish in Port of Esbjerg, they do not hire the workers themselves. Instead they use sub-contractors. We have good relations with those sub-contractors. They know what kinds of work tasks are coming.
So, we are always ahead, and that is why we do not have labor shortages in Esbjerg. You cannot start retraining workers, when the jobs are already here”, says Jakob Lykke.
The retraining takes usually between 1-10 weeks, so 3F and Jacob Lykke is already planning for autumn. They are also looking into the orders coming next year.
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“We are always ahead which means that we do not end up in the situation not having the workers needed. When there is a demand for labor, we are ready”
Education is necessary to make the transition just. Danish workers strongly believe that society should help those who will lose their jobs as a result of the green transition. And that re-skilling is the best way to do so.
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