Crisis in the auto industry: jobs and climate in a dead end!

Crisis in the auto industry: jobs and climate in a dead end!

The topic of the automotive industry and its challenges is more relevant than ever. The Wuppertal Institute reports on drastic developments that not only have a strong impact on the economic structure, but also on the workplace situation. Due to current economic and security policy circumstances, there are job cuts in the industry and national debt is rising at the same time. It is also clear that politics and business are increasingly focusing on armaments, often to the detriment of climate protection measures.

Amid this unrest, global competition for raw materials is intensifying and demands for longer and more intensive work are increasing. What's going on here? A look at the next discussion event on June 26th in Wuppertal could be informative. The event, organized by the grassroots initiative Solidarity and Trade Unionists for Climate Protection in cooperation with the Nicaragua Information Office and the Wuppertal Peace Forum, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Fire Station. Dr. Monika Dittrich, head of the Circular Systems research area at the Wuppertal Institute, will speak on the topics “Autoworkers in Crisis – Peace in Crisis – Climate in Crisis”. Participation is free, but donations are requested.

Employment prospects

The challenges facing the automotive industry are not diminishing, but the study Fraunhofer IAO creates rays of hope. It examines the future employment and qualification needs at Volkswagen up to 2030 and confirms that job losses could be lower than feared. Strategic measures to create new business areas, particularly in the area of ​​electromobility, are intended to mitigate the negative effects.

A key result shows that fears of massive job losses are not coming true. Although there is a noticeable decline in vehicle production due to the switch to electric drives, positive impulses are coming from digitalization, which could initially lead to an increase in employment. In addition, Prof. Wilhelm Bauer from Fraunhofer IAO emphasizes the importance of close cooperation with Volkswagen in order to overcome these challenges together.

Double transformation and its effects

Another aspect of the current transformation in the automotive industry is the research on double transformation WSI is treated. This shows that digitalization and electromobility are often viewed as isolated phenomena, although their effects on the workplace situation are much more interconnected. An extensive survey of over 4,100 employees in the industry provides information about the technologies that have already been implemented and their distribution.

Overall, the automotive industry is facing complex challenges, which can also bring numerous opportunities for growth and innovation. It becomes clear that it is crucial to design the transformation process systematically in order to successfully master the upcoming changes.

How will developments continue to unfold in the next few months? The discussion event on June 26th will certainly offer interesting insights and suggestions for everyone who is interested in the future of the automotive industry.