Meyer Turku’s ship order sparks renewed interest in metal industry training in Finland

Meyer Turku’s recent major ship order is generating excitement in vocational schools, especially among students in the metal industry. Despite a decline in interest in this field among young people in recent years, positive news from the shipyard could rekindle enthusiasm. According to Meyer, the confirmed order is expected to create approximately 13,000 person-years of employment.

Students Elmeri Sjö and Tomi Reponen, who are studying machine and production technology at Turku Vocational Institute, will begin their training as sheet metal workers at the Meyer shipyard this autumn. Both students express a keen interest in pursuing career opportunities at the shipyard after graduation. “The new order is a good development,” says Sjö, echoing Reponen’s sentiment, “I could work at the shipyard in the future. When an order comes in, it means a nice amount of work for a long time.”

Pekka Rannikko, vice principal and guidance counselor at the vocational institute, regards the shipyard’s new order as a bright news story and a psychological victory, hoping it will revitalize interest in the sector. “The future of the metal industry appears slightly brighter in light of this news,” Rannikko states.

Training is needed to meet the demand for workforce, but concerns arise about attracting enough students. Jukka Lehtinen, an education counselor at the Ministry of Education and Culture, points out the importance of adult education as a quick response to industry needs while emphasizing the necessity for education providers to stay attuned to the demands of the job market. However, expanding training places won’t be beneficial if the number of applicants doesn’t increase. Discussions about labor shortages in the metal sector have been ongoing, with more training opportunities than applicants in regions like Varsinais-Suomi, while other industries like healthcare and logistics also face shortages. Lehtinen stresses the need for education providers to guide young people towards fields experiencing a labor shortfall.