In the North, the rail industry must replace its aging workforce

The railway is sounding the alarm sign. By no means within the Hauts-de-France has the sector been so strained when it comes to recruitment, as proven by a examine carried out by the Regional Directorate for the Economic system, Employment, Labor and Solidarity ( Dreets) on ability wants. Since 2015, the main rail area in France has needed to change half of its workers. That’s to say 7,500 positions out of the 15,000 present within the areas, which represents a 3rd of the entire workforce in France. “By 2030, that’s to say tomorrow, the variety of creations and replacements will likely be round eight,000 jobs within the areas”, proclaims Ali Benamara, president of the Affiliation of Railway Industries (AIF), which brings collectively round 100 corporations.

30% of engineers are over 46 years outdated

The Hauts-de-France area is an actual locomotive in railway development. Three worldwide leaders, together with Alstom The place Siemens , have their primary factories there, all within the northern a part of the territory. To that are added almost 250 subcontractors. All of them face the identical downside: the sector’s lack of attractiveness, mixed with a poorly oriented age pyramid. “Amongst technicians and supervisors, 14% are over 56 years outdated, 40% over 46 years outdated. And 30% of engineers are over 46 years outdated ”, underline the authors of the examine.

The discovering is all of the extra alarming because the rail is at a turning level. “Disruptive applied sciences are multiplying. As we speak, the primary analysis initiatives relate to gentle trains and even predictive upkeep, ”explains Lionel Pujol, scientific director at Railenium, the Institute for Technological Analysis (IRT) within the railway sector, therefore the rising want for engineers.

Lack of visibility

One other problem within the sector: the multiplication of constructions within the areas – round twenty in complete, together with the i-Trans, Railenium, or the Transalley know-how park – makes the ecosystem obscure. “None has a transparent thought of ​​the position of others. Some might be streamlined or pooled, ”notes Dreets.

Based on professionals, issues are altering. Specifically, due to the requires initiatives launched final spring as a part of the relaunch plan regarding railway innovation. Since April, 26 initiatives bringing collectively some 120 companions have been labeled. “This represents a finances of 480 million euros,” explains Daniel Coutellier, vice-president of the i-Trans division.

Particular coaching programs, similar to an city transport grasp’s diploma, have been arrange. However within the meantime long training and the commercial emergency, there’s a hole. To treatment this, Dreets suggests managing abilities on the degree of the metallurgy department to advertise cross-industry bridges. As of 2022, the AIF will supply an Web platform itemizing the roles obtainable within the areas.