Twenty-five participants from the European sectoral social dialogue and training experts from the pulp and paper industry came together at the Papierzentrum in Gernsbach to discuss the skills and training workers need today and those that will be required as jobs, technologies and production processes evolve.

FUPROJOB4PAPER – Ensuring Future-Proof Jobs in the Paper Sector – has two closely connected objectives: to develop a Just Transition pathway for the European pulp and paper sector and to increase the attractiveness and visibility of the industry.

The Gernsbach workshop followed the first regional workshop, held in Madrid in March, where participants explored Just Transition strategies and different scenarios for the future of the sector towards 2035. This second workshop took the discussion a step further by asking what these changes mean for workers and, in particular, which skills and training will be needed over the next five to ten years.

The choice of Gernsbach provided a particularly relevant setting for these discussions. The Papierzentrum is a specialised education and training centre for the paper industry, where workers can develop their knowledge of paper technologies through different education and training pathways. Its close connection to the industry offered participants an opportunity to see how skills development can work in practice and to reflect on how existing training structures can respond to future needs.

The first day opened with a presentation by André Müller, Director of the Papierzentrum on training and skills development in the German paper industry. Participants then heard from Anais Bouchard and Antoine Dufort from House of Codesign about innovative learning and training tools and approaches used in other industries.

A roundtable on “Building Skills and Learning Pathways for the Future of the Paper Industry”brought together different perspectives on vocational education and training, university education and on-the-job learning. The discussion brought together professors from Papierzentrum and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, covering education and training from the VET level to university level, as well as on-the-job training. Together, we looked at how these different pathways can complement each other and respond to changing skills needs in the sector.

The exchanges highlighted the importance of anticipating change rather than reacting to it once new technologies and production methods are already in place. Ensuring that workers have access to quality training and opportunities to update and develop their skills throughout their careers will be essential for a successful transformation of the sector. At the same time, investing in skills can contribute to making the pulp and paper industry more attractive to new generations of workers.

In the afternoon, participants continued their work with researchers from House of Codesign, who are supporting the FUPROJOB4PAPER project. Building on the discussions and scenarios developed during the first regional workshop in Madrid, the interactive session focused on three priorities: sharing best practices and strengthening innovation cooperation at European level; sharing skills and know-how to remain competitive; and improving communication about the paper industry.

The discussion also explored practical ideas for supporting workers as skills requirements evolve, including the potential development of a skills passport. Such an approach could contribute to identifying and recognising workers’ existing skills while supporting further training and mobility as jobs and technologies change.

Participants also had the opportunity to visit the Papierzentrum’s laboratories and training facilities, providing a first-hand look at how technical knowledge and practical learning are brought together in the paper sector.

On the second day, participants visited MM Gernsbach GmbH, bringing the discussions on skills, technology and training directly into an industrial setting and providing an opportunity to see the realities of paper production on the ground. The site visit concluded the two-day programme.

The Gernsbach workshop reinforced a central message of the FUPROJOB4PAPER project: preparing for a Just Transition is not only about anticipating technological and environmental change, but also about investing in the people who will make that transition possible. Workers need access to quality training, lifelong learning and opportunities to develop and have their skills recognised throughout their working lives.

The outcomes of the workshop will now feed into the next phase of FUPROJOB4PAPER. Project partners will review the findings prepared by the research team and continue developing proposals for a Just Transition pathway that combines the transformation and competitiveness of the European pulp and paper industry with quality jobs and future-proof skills.

The project will culminate in its final conference on 30 and 31 March 2027.

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