|

ABB Survey Reveals Re-Industrialization at Risk from Global “Education Gap” In Automation

MC ABB Survey Reveals Re Industrialization at Risk from Global Education Gap in Automation 1 400x275

September 22, 2022

 

  • •80% of education professionals say robots and automation will shape the future of employment over the next ten years.
  • •Yet only one in four education establishments use robots in teaching programs despite planned investment in robotics and automation by 70% of US and European businesses over the next three years due to supply chain shifts*
  • •ABB’s global education program of over 100 universities training over 30,000 students annually expands with opening of new Robotics & Automation training facilities.

 

A global ABB survey has revealed a growing trend in US and European businesses towards re-shoring or nearshoring operations to build resilience in the face of global challenges – but at the same time, a significant education gap in the skills necessary for these strategies to succeed. 

“The world is constantly evolving – businesses are shifting existing structures and adopting new technologies to future-proof their operations for a variety of challenges and uncertainties, with robotic automation playing a key role,” said Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation Business. “We need significant investment in continuous education to prepare our existing and future workforce to thrive in an age of robotics and automation, important not only to prepare for the widespread shifts we are seeing, but to create prosperous societies going forward.”

MC ABB Survey Reveals Re Industrialization at Risk from Global Education Gap in Automation 2 1280x853

ABB’s global education program of over 100 universities training over 30,000 students annually expands with opening of new Robotics & Automation training facilities

ABB’s 2022 survey of US and European business leaders revealed that 74 percent of European and 70 percent of U.S. businesses are planning to re- or nearshore operations to build their supply chain resilience in response to labor shortages, the need for a more sustainable global footprint and global uncertainty.

The majority of these businesses view automation as the enabler of these shifts, with 75 percent of European and 62 percent of US businesses surveyed planning to invest in robotics and automation in the next three years to facilitate this shift in operations.

MC ABB Survey Reveals Re Industrialization at Risk from Global Education Gap in Automation 4 1280x853

Despite this appetite for automation, ABB’s 2022 global education survey found a significant gap in the education and training needed to ensure the skills necessary for work in the increasingly connected and automated workplaces of the future. Of the global education professionals surveyed, 80 percent believe robotics and automation will shape the future of employment in the next ten years, while only one in four education institutions currently use robots as part of their teaching programs.

ABB’s existing educational offering consists of software packages, including ABB’s Wizard Easy programming, RobotStudio® and RobotStudio® AR Viewer App

To help bridge the skills gap, ABB has bolstered its global Robotics and Automation education program with new training centers, including its EUR 100m global innovation and training campus in Austria. The new site, along with other new regional training centres in the UK, Berlin and Brazil expands ABB’s training facilities to over 40 sites globally, educating more than 30,000 students from schools, colleges, and universities, as well as apprentices and workers each year.  

The sites add to ABB’s existing educational offering, which consists of software packages, including ABB’s Wizard Easy programming, RobotStudio® and RobotStudio® AR Viewer App, as well as hardware in the form of collaborative robot cells and application packages. Through more than 100 global partnerships with schools and universities, ABB generates curriculum materials with education providers to help educate future generations and prepare them the jobs of tomorrow.

MC ABB Survey Reveals Re Industrialization at Risk from Global Education Gap in Automation 3 1280x853

“Change needs to happen now,” added Atiya. “As companies turn to robotic automation to offset labor shortages, improve efficiency, and increase resilience, workers need the skillsets to use automation to perform their jobs and augment their own roles.  Businesses need to join forces, cooperating with education institutions and Governments to ensure that society is prepared for jobs of the future.  Only through this can we fully utilize flexible automation and unlock value from the ongoing re-industrialization.”

To help bridge the skills gap, ABB has 40 Robotics and Automation training sites globally, educating more than 30,000 students, apprentices and workers

ABB’s survey highlights the critical need to promote the teaching of robotics and automation skills. For more information, including ABB’s offering for education, examples of educational projects involving ABB and its robots and software, and a white paper explaining how teaching automation can help shape tomorrow’s workforce, visit the ABB education portal page by clicking here

 

*ABB Supply Chain survey, 2022
This release combines findings from ABB’s Supply Chain and Education survey, both conducted in 2022.

ABB Logo 300x150

 

 

 

Source

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • The Future of Safety Networks

    October 8, 2025 How scalable safety systems are reshaping industrial automation As factories become more connected and fast-changing, traditional safety systems often fall short. Scalable safety networks offer a flexible, modular solution that helps manufacturers stay ahead on safety, compliance, and productivity. Designed for Agility Scalable safety networks are built on a modular foundation. This… Read More…

  • ABB Contactor Selection Guide Canada

    October 1, 2025 ABB contactors are among the most reliable electrical switching devices in industrial automation. As Canada’s leading ABB authorized distributor, Proax has helped thousands of engineers and technicians select the right ABB contactor for their applications. Whether you’re designing a new motor control panel or replacing existing equipment, choosing the right ABB contactor can… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • Schneider Electric Unveils New AI Data Centre Reference Designs with NVIDIA

    October 6, 2025 Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced new reference designs developed with NVIDIA that significantly accelerate time to deployment and aid operators as they adopt AI-ready infrastructure solutions. The first reference design delivers the industry’s first and only critical framework for integrated power management and liquid… Read More…

  • PISA-M Electronic Circuit Breakers: New NEC Class 2 Compliant Variants Available

    October 6, 2025 PULS introduces new 4-channel electronic circuit breakers designed specifically for power distribution in NEC Class 2 circuits, expanding the existing PISA-M series. PISA-M enables the safe distribution of load current into four individual Class 2 circuits. This offers a cost-effective alternative to multiple individually approved NEC Class 2 compliant power supplies, reducing both acquisition costs and… Read More…