Study on Manufacturing Non-Textile Sector : the future is dependent on digital and ecologic transition

The key findings on skills needs and manpower requirements for the Manufacturing Non-Textile Sector, a result of a survey carried out on skills needs by the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) under the Skills Studies 2017/2018, were presented this week at NG Tower in Ebène.

Professionals and operators from the manufacturing non-textile sector and representatives from Government bodies, public and private education and training institutions as well as students attended the session.

Present on the occasion, the Director of the HRDC, Raj Auckloo, pointed out that the manufacturing non-textile sector forms part of the key economic sectors of the country and contributes 9.4% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 17% to employment. The survey, he highlighted, has been carried out to ensure that the sector is equipped with economic driven skilled manpower to meet the present and upcoming needs.

With regard to Skills Studies, he underlined that they are carried out by the HRDC every two or three years to gauge the availability of competent candidates on the job market.  The survey, he added, provides fundamental data sources which have to be regularly conducted to update skills needs at enterprise level.

Mr Auckloo further underpinned that the dynamics of the labour market, coupled with the corporate strategy of firms and the economic orientation of the country, require a workforce equipped with up-to-date skills. On this score, he called on training and education providers to adapt their curriculum based on the current and future skills needs.

Study on Manufacturing Non-Textile Sector

According to the Skills Studies, high-tech industries are providing a lot of new high-skilled jobs in engineering, precision manufacturing and food processing. The future of the sector is highly dependent on digital and ecologic transition as well as more focused on human capital. 

Current jobs demand include bakers, machine operators, machinists, manufacturing engineers and researchers, while the future jobs demand are electrical designers, IT engineers, industrial designers and e-commerce specialists, amongst others. 

The proposed recommendations of the study are to revitalise and re-engineer the manufacturing non-textile sector through innovative practices and new type skills, enhance career guidance provision, establish a platform to feed skills needs and develop a re-skilling mechanism.