About 1 people retire from the infrastructure sector every year. About 200 people graduate from educational institutions. There is a shortage in all types of work, but especially in trackside, work management and knowledge of data modeling. "Now we should put education paths and application quotas in order and take advantage of the improved image of the infrastructure sector," says Antti Knuutila of MANK ry.
Text: Saija Syväoja | Pictures: Lari Järnefelt, Pekka Fali
Between 90 and 110 civil engineers and masters graduate in the infrastructure sector every year. This is less than 10 percent of the total amount in the construction industry. 200–250 civil engineers graduate, of which only 50–60 go to the infrastructure sector.
In addition, 420–480 experts graduate from vocational schools each year, 60 percent of whom are construction machine operators and about 10 percent from the fields of stone and mining and earthworks.
"This means that we need about 600 more skilled people every year, for example from other industries or from abroad. In addition, it should be possible to keep those already in the field working. This can be achieved with good management, supporting well-being at work and especially taking care of the working capacity of older employees", project manager Antti Knuutila list.
Antti Knuutila. Photo: Lari Järnefelt
Training in the infrastructure sector was considerably reduced in the 1990s. When the number of educations in different fields was increased again in the 2000s, the number of educations in the infrastructure sector practically did not increase at all.
The skill gap applies to practically all types of work, but the biggest one is in track work, track design and work management. In work management positions, the gap is greatest in track work, base reinforcement and concrete work management.
"There is especially a shortage of experienced project managers capable of large projects. It is noteworthy that there is a lack of information modeling expertise for the entire life cycle of the infrastructure," explains Vetävä Knuutila, who leads the LIKE project of MANK ry.
The field's solution proposals require
intensifying cooperation
"The infrastructure field should already be on display when applying to educational institutions - not in a way that, for example, you only apply to the engineering field and only get oriented during your studies. Infra's vocational subjects must be in the patterns right from the first year," emphasizes Knuutila.
In addition, the cooperation between universities of applied sciences and vocational educational institutions should ensure that the transition from vocational studies to university of applied sciences studies is flexible.
"It is also possible to apply pathway studies already completed during vocational education to this," says Knuutila.
According to Knuutila, by developing various conversion trainings and minor subject modules, experts from related fields such as environmental engineering would also be brought into the field.
Continuing education in the field also needs better joint planning, and training needs should be considered not only nationally, but also regionally, as there are regional differences in the skills gap.
Photo: Pekka Fali
The client sector sets competence requirements for contracts to guarantee quality. "On the other hand, the operators and trainers in the field must ensure through their cooperation that the education market reacts to the new skill requirements", sums up Knuutila.
Everyone needs to be aware of the magnitude of the skill gap and increase cooperation to fix the issue.
"Educational cooperation must be purposeful and long-term, so that educational institutions receive training on the latest procedures and work tools in the field. New forms of cooperation in order to secure the quality of education must be actively sought and tried."
Knuutila challenges all companies in the infrastructure sector to work on attraction to increase the attractiveness of the sector and to fill the skill gap. "Everyone can make an impact with their own work and activities. Now there is even a danger that education in Southern Finland and the capital region will be reduced when the places cannot be filled. And it is precisely in Southern Finland that the need is greatest."
Advisory board for the construction industry MANK ry your order Tampere University of Applied Sciences from TAMK a report on the number of graduates and those leaving the field and the most important skill gaps. The report also had to offer solutions. The report, based on educational institution surveys, workshops and company interviews, was published on January 27.1.2021, XNUMX.
- MANK ry, Infra-sector training and competence in Finland survey >
- Like, infraosaaja.fi >
See also for the OTUS research project, which revealed that education in the construction industry performs worst in southern Finland and in growth centers where there are the most jobs in the industry.
The joint application starts for secondary education on February 23, 2021 and for higher education on March 17, 2021.