How does the drop of unemployment rates in Central Europe have an impact on the automotive industry?

Nowadays the technology and connectivity are looming ever larger in our societies. As a result the automotive industry is facing a major turning-point in its history. However if the European economies seem to get their dynamism back, the drop of unemployment rates in Central Europe worries the automotive actors.

On February, 8, 2017, Dieter Zetsche, president of ACEA – European Automotive Manufacturers Association- unveiled the 2016 passenger cars sales in Europe. The European automotive market has recorded its best results in 9 years, with almost 14, 6 million vehicles sold and an estimated growth of 6, 8% to compare with 2015. These excellent results reinforce the impression of a lasting recovery in European Automotive market. However automotive actors do not have such optimism as regards the drop of unemployment rates in Central Europe. Indeed, several Central European countries as Germany and Czech Republic have recorded their lowest unemployment rates since 1990, with respectively 3, 8% and 3, 4% since the end of 2016. This situation is problematic for automotive. Indeed, in order to offer vehicles that are in tune with their time, OEMs have decided to put the emphasis on innovation. Well, it has become more and more difficult for automotive industry to find qualified and specialized workforce, even by increasing salaries. As a result, OEMs have increased the outsourcing part in their activities and are willing to have recourse to workforce from late bloomers.

In this context, SNECI brings its expertise and know-how to help automotive suppliers achieving the technical and qualitative levels required by international manufacturers.