The future of manufacturing in Europe

Storrie, Donald

doi:10.2806/44491

Overview

Research report

The future of manufacturing in Europe

Published: 10 April 2019

The pilot project The Future of Manufacturing in Europe is an explorative and future-oriented study. It explores the future adoption of some key game-changing technologies and how this adoption can be promoted, even regionally. The analysis of implications for working life focuses primarily on tasks and skills, not only at the white-collar, tertiary-education level, but also for blue-collar occupations, including a focus on challenges facing national and company apprenticeship systems. The future orientation also includes quantitative estimates of the employment implications of the Paris Climate Agreement, of large increases in global tariffs and of radical automation. It also measures the return of previously offshored jobs to Europe. Other research examines how the deepening globalisation provides opportunities for small companies to engage in international supply chains. This final report summarises the 10 project reports, which are complemented by 47 case studies, 27 policy instruments and 4 associated publications.

See also: The future of manufacturing in Europe - Executive summary [download]

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ISBN

978-92-897-1860-8

Number of pages

Reference no.

FOMEEF18002

ISBN

978-92-897-1860-8

Catalogue number

TJ-02-19-247-EN-N

DOI

10.2806/44491

Permalink

http://eurofound.link/fomeef18002

Activity

FOME

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10 April 2019

Page

Future of Manufacturing in Europe (FOME)

The future of manufacturing – is it in Europe?

Over the past four years a special project delegated to Eurofound has looked in detail at ongoing changes in manufacturing on a global scale, analysed how the industry will change further in the future, and assessed what the impacts will be for Europe. Looking at everything from changes in tasks for meat packers in Sweden, to the potential fallout of a trade war between the US, the EU and China, the remit of the project was expansive, and findings were detailed and diverse. They serve to highlight the potential labour market changes that will be brought about from automation and technological change in manufacturing.

Future of manufacturing in Europe

The pilot project The Future of Manufacturing in Europe is an explorative and future-oriented study. It explores the future adoption of some key game-changing technologies and how this adoption can be promoted, even regionally. The project was initially proposed by the European Parliament and delegated to Eurofound by the European Commission (DG GROW). The research is divided into seven sub-projects. It commenced in April 2015 and ran for four years.