Source : National Bank of Belgium (data from the Central Balance Sheet Office)
Programmes aimed at upgrading employees’ skills are crucial to enhance the sector’s human capital and contribute to employee satisfaction. Continuous vocational training facilitates the continued employability of an ageing workforce, and is vital for the success of a highly innovative and skills-based sector such as the chemicals and life sciences industry.
58,900 people (64% of all those employed in the chemical and life sciences industry) participated in formal continuous training in 2019, compared to 47% for the manufacturing sector as a whole. Additional analysis shows no substantial difference in participation rates between men and women in the sector.
In 2019, companies in the chemicals and life sciences industry spent no less than €200 million on continuous training for their employees, an amount which corresponds to 2.4% of total wage costs. Two-thirds of this was spent on formal training and the rest on informal (on-the-job) training. In 2017, the social partners agreed a common objective of an average of three days training per year per employee.
Social partners in the chemicals and life sciences industry co-manage Co-Valent, the sector’s training funds, with a special focus on promoting training and skills development within smaller companies (SMEs).
The chemicals and biopharmaceutical industry also engages in dual learning programmes in both Wallonia and Flanders, where high school and superior school students are combining formal school education with practical work experience in companies.
The Antwerp Management School conducted a study for essenscia vlaanderen on ‘The future of jobs’, analysing what impact Industry 4.0 will have on job profiles. Digitalisation offers many opportunities for the industry and is a prerequisite to maintain the Belgian chemicals industry’s leading position.
Source : National Bank of Belgium (data from the Central Balance Sheet Office)
