Asylum Seekers in Eindhoven Trained for Jobs in the Microchip Industry

High Regional Demand for Technical Talent

The Brainport region will need about 26,000 additional employees in the semiconductor and microchip industry in the coming years. This training program combines the efforts of education, companies, and government to address the shortage, emphasizing that every talent is needed—from asylum seekers to benefit recipients.

Saskia Lammers, alderwoman and chair of the Southeast Brabant labor market region, emphasized the importance during her visit on March 5 to a class at Summa on Blécourtstraat: Every talent counts, we need everyone. We also want newcomers to participate in our region from day one. Language and work are indispensable. The pressing staff shortages also require something from employers: reorganizing functions, redistributing tasks, and strengthening guidance. This creates space for talent that is often unused now. By providing access to training and good guidance in this shortage sector, we truly help them on their way to growth and ultimately a good job in our region.

Start with Language and Sector Terminology

The first group of participants started with the language and sector terminology module for the microchip industry. Then lessons on safety, sector orientation, and additional basic technical skills modules follow.

Jeroen Wissink, program manager at Summa: We start with language where needed, but always as part of one continuous trajectory towards technology. By aligning the modules well, we increase the chance that participants successfully transition to a job in semicon. We see good attendance during lessons and engaged, passionate participants.

Besides this group, other lateral entrants will join soon. They start directly with the basic technical module. Think of people in benefit situations or those who want or need to change jobs.

Practical Implementation

The program now has 18 classes at 6 locations. Participants work 4 days a week, 3 hours a day on language; later the technical component is expanded. In the coming months, another 80 new participants will start. The goal is to enroll 80 extra candidates each quarter and expand to other municipalities and labor market regions.

Brainport Academy and Collaboration

The training program is currently carried out by the municipality of Eindhoven, COA, Wasbeer & Pauw, and Summa. Some of these parties also collaborate on the Brainport Academy. Brainport Academy is part of Beethoven Talent and focuses on retraining and upskilling for the sector, lifelong learning. Educational partners and labor market regions collaborate in this.

National Strengthening Plan Microchip Talent

This activity is partly made possible by the National Strengthening Plan for Microchip Talent. In the Brainport region, TU/e, Fontys, Summa, Ter AA, labor market regions Southeast Brabant and Helmond/De Peel, Brainport Development, the business community, and covenant partners join forces. Together, we train thousands of new people for the microchip industry through 2030. This strengthens the Brainport region.

Covenant partners: Curio, Gilde Opleidingen, Koning Willem I College, Sint Lucas, Yonder, Yuverta, Avans University of Applied Sciences, HAN, and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences.