The IMASUS (Innovative Manufacturing for Sustainable Skills) needs analysis report, developed as part of the IMASUS project, examines the current skills landscape in sustainable manufacturing, with a focus on identifying gaps and training needs across industry stakeholders. The study draws on stakeholder consultations, surveys and sectoral analysis to assess how workforce capabilities align with the evolving demands of sustainability, digitalisation and circular economy practices within manufacturing systems.

Key takeaways

• There is a significant skills gap in sustainability related competences, particularly in areas such as circular economy practices, resource efficiency and environmental management.
• Digital skills remain uneven across the workforce, with a growing need for capabilities in data management, automation and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• SMEs face greater challenges in accessing training and upskilling opportunities, often due to limited resources and organisational capacity.
• The transition towards sustainable manufacturing requires a combination of technical, digital and transversal skills, including problem-solving and systems thinking.
• There is a need for more targeted and flexible training programmes, tailored to industry needs and accessible to different workforce groups.
• Stronger collaboration between industry, education providers and policymakers is essential to address skills mismatches effectively.
• Continuous learning and reskilling are becoming critical to support the twin transition towards green and digital manufacturing systems.

The report highlights that addressing skills gaps is essential to enabling a successful transition towards more sustainable and resilient manufacturing systems. It emphasises the importance of aligning training provision with industry needs, strengthening partnerships across stakeholders, and supporting SMEs in accessing upskilling opportunities to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape.

For full details, readers are encouraged to consult the original report.