Identifying the Future Skills Requirements of the Job Profiles Related to Sustainability in the Engineering Sector

Abstract

The field of engineering has undergone significant evolution over the time. With the advent of new
industrial revolutions and the growing importance of sustainability, the skills necessary to excel as an
engineer have changed drastically. To be a competent engineer in the future, and to achieve the
psychological wellbeing of a qualified and up-to-date professional, it is necessary to analyze potential
changes that may occur in the field and adapt one's skills accordingly. Engineers can stay ahead of the
curve and remain relevant in an ever-changing landscape, only by anticipating and preparing for
future developments as well as foreseeing the future skills needs. In order to address the need of
identifying the future skill requirements for engineers, in this work, we created a skills database with a
strong focus on sustainability. This database not only integrates current skills, but also foresees and
establishes the skills related to sustainability, which will be needed in the future. For this aim, we
benefited from the ESCO database for selecting the engineering job profiles related to sustainability
as well as the current skills needs of the engineers. On the other hand, we conducted a detailed desk
research in order to analyse and identify the future skills needs for the selected engineering job
profiles. The aim of our work is to address the lack of a skills database specifically designed for the
engineering field in relation to sustainability. The database is intended to provide end -users with
information on new skill requirements that may arise from future changes, such as industrial and
sustainable shifts.