Report
2024

1Building a shared vision on the challenge of talent in the Basque Country

The Euskadi 2040 vision, shared by Orkestra and Basque institutions, considers the attraction of talent and lifelong learning as key dimensions for a prosperous Basque Country.

Within the framework of this project, we have facilitated a process within the Basque Government to develop a comprehensive talent and skills strategy, mapping existing initiatives and promoting interdepartmental collaboration to generate synergies.

2Fostering dialogue on generational change and the future of employment

Together with the Department of Economy, Labour and Employment of the Basque Government, we have worked to build a shared vision on intergenerationality and generational change.

Through meetings with local authorities and business clusters, we have identified the main challenges and opportunities for integrating these aspects into the design of public policies.

3Creating an ecosystem to address the shortage of STEM talent in Bizkaia

Since 2022, we have been collaborating with the Provincial Council of Bizkaia in an initiative to address the shortage of STEM talent. This year we have contributed to the design and implementation of the "Bizkaia with the talent" skills ecosystem that facilitates coordination between companies, universities, clusters and vocational training centres.

In addition, we have led a study to characterise the STEM training on offer in the territory that will allow us to identify opportunities to improve the availability of qualified talent, ensuring that training is aligned with the needs of the market.

4Improving the sense of work in companies in Gipuzkoa

In one of the spaces for deliberation that we facilitated in 2020-2021 within the Think Tank Etorkizuna Eraikiz of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the need to strengthen the sense of work in companies emerged. After an experimental phase with six pilot projects led by Mondragon Unibertsitatea, in 2023-2024 we have developed action research workshops together with the Department of Economic Development.

In these workshops, representatives from ten regional development agencies, Asle, the Gipuzkoa Chamber of Commerce and Tknika have developed skills to work with companies to improve the sense of work in order to respond to such relevant challenges as talent retention or absenteeism.

5Addressing the talent shortage in Advanced Services in cities

Advanced Services require highly qualified talent, as they provide specialised solutions to other companies. In 2024, we have worked on two projects focused on strengthening the competitiveness of this sector in Bilbao and San Sebastian.

In Bilbao, we have supported Bilbao Ekintza in a project that explores the potential of Vocational Training to provide qualified personnel to Advanced Services companies. The result is the creation of an ecosystem with actors in the territory linked to VET who work collaboratively to respond to the challenge of talent in the Advanced Services.

Together with Fomento San Sebastián, we have analysed the performance of Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) companies. This research has confirmed that the lack of specialised talent is a key challenge for the competitiveness of the sector in the city, laying the foundations for future policy strategies.

6Identify the green occupations of the future and analyse how VET can ensure succession in key sectors for sustainability

In this research project we have analysed the role of VET in environmental sustainability and concluded that Spain faces the process of environmental transition with a deficit of one million young people in green occupations.

According to the report published together with Caixabank Dualiza, the data in the Basque Country is encouraging: in the last five years, 50% of vocational training students have enrolled in courses related to sustainability. Furthermore, between 2025 and 2035, almost 650,000 job opportunities will be created in the Basque Country, 30% of which will be green jobs.