In a pressing alert issued by the Royal Federation of Belgian Engineering Associations (FABI), Belgium finds itself on the brink of a significant crisis due to a severe shortage of engineers.
The alarming shortfall, highlighted on the occasion of World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, poses a grave challenge to the country’s economic growth and innovation capacity.
According to FABI President Anne Fievez, Belgian industries are in desperate need of over 2,000 engineers annually, while only approximately 1,500 graduates enter the workforce each year.
This deficit of more than 500 engineers annually threatens to impede crucial functions such as research and development, essential transitions, and maintaining competitiveness across various sectors.
Looking ahead to 2030, FABI anticipates a further exacerbation of the engineer shortage, with an estimated need for nearly 2,000 additional engineers to address the demands of innovation, particularly in ecological, climate, biomedical, and digital technologies.
To combat this impending crisis, FABI advocates for the immediate implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at promoting science and mathematics education among young people from an early age.
Central to FABI’s proposed solution is a concerted effort to reshape the public perception of science and engineering, often viewed as daunting fields.
The federation praises initiatives such as the Euro Space Center’s STEM awareness campaigns and suggests adopting programs like Sweden’s ‘Tekniksprånget’, which connects students with engineering internships to provide practical experience and mentorship.
Guillaume Dewispelaere, FABI’s Secretary General, emphasizes the importance of fostering partnerships between engineering schools and experienced professionals.
This approach provides students with valuable hands-on experience and networking opportunities crucial for their future careers.
Moreover, Dewispelaere highlights the urgent need to address gender disparities within the engineering field, with women currently representing less than 20% of engineers in Belgium.
FABI attributes this imbalance to persistent stereotypes and calls for efforts to create a more inclusive and diverse engineering workforce.
The engineer shortage extends beyond Belgium, with global projections indicating a deficit of over 2.4 million engineers worldwide by 2024.
In the United States, the shortfall in science and engineering graduates could result in significant economic losses, while Europe faces an urgent need for an additional 150,000 engineers to support innovation and competitiveness.
Developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are also struggling with severe shortages of engineers and technicians, hindering progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals related to access to clean water and sanitation.
In response to these challenges, FABI urges policymakers, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders to collaborate on comprehensive strategies to address the engineer shortage and ensure a sustainable future for Belgium’s economy and society.
Time is of the essence, and immediate action is imperative to avert a looming crisis that threatens to undermine the country’s progress and prosperity.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
