Slovak industry is facing one of the biggest challenges in recent decades. In technical operations, energy, automation and mechanical engineering, a generation of people who have built the industry for decades is gradually leaving. In addition to their numbers, the problem is also the "departure" of experience, know-how and practical knowledge that cannot be learned from a textbook or during a short training course.
In the PPA CONTROLL group We are increasingly perceiving the topic of generational change. It touches on the everyday reality of companies that need to ensure continuity of operations, quality of services, and future competitiveness.
Slovakia is among the countries with the fastest aging workforce in the European Union. The situation is even worse in technical professions. Many teams today rely on experienced professionals who are gradually approaching retirement age.
"The biggest risk is not just the lack of new workers, but the loss of practical experience that cannot be learned from a manual or during several weeks of training. In technical professions, a large part of the know-how is passed on directly in the operation," says Martina Fandelová, HR Director of PPA CONTROLL.
In our group of companies, we systematically work on transferring experience and creating an environment and conditions so that younger colleagues can learn directly from senior experts.
One of the reasons why the situation is complicated and may soon become critical is the long-term decline in young people's interest in technical fields. The industry no longer looks like a stereotypical, physically demanding job behind the belt. Modern technologies, automation, smart solutions and digitalization have changed the entire sector.
Yet, technical professions often lose the battle for young talent to IT, marketing, or digital services. Many young people simply have no idea what technologically interesting projects the industry offers today.
That's why in the group PPA CONTROLL has been cooperating with schools for a long time, we have trainee programs and we see supporting young talents as a necessary investment in the future.
"We see that young people are interested in modern technologies, automation and smart solutions. However, if we want them to stay in the industry, we have to show them that today's technical professions are promising and technologically attractive professions," explains Martina Fandelová.
In technical professions, there is a huge amount of practical knowledge that is created through years of work directly in the operation. This is experience that is often not recorded in detail anywhere, but is decisive for the safety, quality and efficiency of operation and often forms the very know-how of the company.
That is why intergenerational cooperation is becoming an increasingly important topic. Many companies are now creating mentoring programs where experienced professionals pass on their know-how to younger colleagues before they retire.
We at PPA CONTROLL Group also see that generational change is not a matter of one recruitment or one training session. It is a long-term process that requires systematic work with people, education and corporate culture.
We cannot stop demographic development, but we can prepare for it. Companies that invest today in education, young talent, intergenerational cooperation, and building stable teams will have a significant competitive advantage in the short future.
At the PPA CONTROLL group, we are convinced that the future of Slovak industry will not only depend on technologies, but especially on people who can develop, manage and move them forward.
PPA CONTROLL Group is looking for people in the fields of energy, automation and industrial automation. View current open positions.
