SERCE is a EuropeOn member from France, representing electrical contracting and engineering companies, and recently became a signatory of an agreement between the French government and a group of professional organisations in the digital value chain to secure jobs and skills necessary for our digital infrastructure. EuropeOn member FFIE is also a signatory of this agreement.
Called EDEC (engagement de développement de l’emploi et des compétences), this agreement aims to set up an action plan to address and anticipate the skills and workforce challenges linked to economic, technological and societal changes ahead. This starts by taking stock of existing skills needs across the whole sector and understanding the adequate training response. This assessment can then form the basis for the action plan.
On 1 December 2021, Elisabeth Borne, Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration, Cédric O, Secretary of State for Digital Transition and Electronic Communications, and Nicolas Guérin, Chairman of the Strategic Committee for the Digital Infrastructures Sector, signed this national framework agreement for the development of employment and skills in the digital infrastructure sector.
This new agreement follows on from a previous iteration centred on fibre optics (2017-2020) and will make it possible to secure employment and training pathways towards the new digital infrastructure professions. 13,000 companies, mainly (very) small and medium enterprises, and more than 140,000 direct jobs are concerned.
After co-managing the EDEC Fibre Optics, whose work on the mapping of professions and training needs was eagerly awaited by all the players in the sector, SERCE, as a signatory of the EDEC Digital Infrastructures, will participate in the working group on new skills and training needs related to the new professions of digital infrastructures and intelligent territories.
SERCE and FFIE have previously been involved with the EDEC framework to assess jobs and future skills needs in the electricity value chain. This endeavour highlighted the existing 600.000 jobs in the electricity sector and the potential for the creation of an extra 200.000 jobs by 2030.
