Netherlands is in the top 10 hotspots for engineering professionals

The Dutch chemical industry is a global leader in their industry, which is one of the reasons why the Netherlands is in the top 10 hotspots for engineering professionals. To stay competitive the companies are now starting to implement the industry 4.0 technology.

When it comes to revenue, the chemical industry ranks 4^th in Europe and 10^th worldwide. With EUR 45 billion of revenue per year, it accounts for 16% of production, 17.9% of exports and 13% of R&D investments. It is therefore no surprise that it is a very attractive sector for international talent to work in, especially as there is always a desire for quality candidates.

To stay competitive the sector is now looking at the next step: the smart factories of industry 4.0. The benefits of smart factories are almost impossible to overestimate. Just as steam power caused the first industrial revolution, electricity the second and computers the third, the internet of things will be responsible for the fourth. It will enable manufacturers to connect all machines, products and services to one central wireless network. Machines will communicate, for example, their status and which parts need to be replaced. Products will share information, for instance about the required colour or size.

AkzoNobel, a company that created a tutorial about the upcoming 4^th industrial revolution, is one company that is looking at the possibilities and consequences of industry 4.0. “Human resources is looking at what these developments mean for the required knowledge and skills of our people,” says Knut Schwalenberg, Managing Director of AkzoNobel on LinkedIn Pulse.

Frontrunner of the revolution

The frontrunners of the 4th industrial revolution can be found in Germany, where internationals like Siemens, Bosch and Volkswagen lead the pack. It’s no coincidence that Industry 4.0 was one of the most important topics at the Hanover Messe, the yearly gathering of the German manufacturing industry. According to a recent study by PwC, companies worldwide will invest more than 860 billion EUR on Internet of Things (IoT) in the coming two years.

The adoption of IoT makes Germany, whose economy is primarily driven by the manufacturing sector, a global hotspot for engineers. According to a recent survey by PageGroup, conducted among more 1,900 engineers worldwide, the country is proving the most popular destination for candidates looking to further career abroad. Of all the engineers who were willing to relocate, 48% see Germany as the destination that will provide the best environment for opportunities. Since many German companies are involved in advanced and applied research, it is one of the most important global hubs for R&D for the engineering and technology sectors.

Ranking global hotspots for engineering professionals

For Trend Watch PageGroup surveyed 18352 job seekers worldwide, who applied on our Michael Page and Page Personnel websites during the 3rd quarter of 2017.

Of the 1935 engineering professionals who participated in the study, 73% were willing to relocate, for job opportunities, a better salary or a different lifestyle.