Asylum seekers in Eindhoven trained for jobs in the microchip industry

More than 230 asylum seekers in Eindhoven have begun a training program aimed at working in the microchip industry. Participants began with a language skills module, learning industry-specific terminology, and then moving on to technical modules. The goal: sustainable transition to employment in the rapidly growing microchip industry.

The Brainport region will need approximately 26.000 additional employees in the semiconductor and microchip industries in the coming years. This training program allows education, businesses, and government to join forces to address the shortage, and every talent is needed, from asylum seekers to benefit recipients.

Alderwoman Saskia Lammers, chair of the Southeast Brabant labor market region, emphasized the importance of this during her visit on March 5th to a class at Summa on Blécourtstraat: “Every talent counts; we need everyone. We also want newcomers to be able to participate in our region from day one. Language and work are essential for this. The pressing staff shortages also demand something from employers: reorganizing jobs, redistributing tasks, and strengthening support. This creates space for talent that often remains untapped. By giving people access to training and good support in this sector with shortages, we truly help them on their path to growth and ultimately a good job in our region.”

The first group of participants began with the language and terminology module for the microchip industry. This was followed by lessons on safety, orientation to the sector, and additional technical basic skills modules. Jeroen Wissink, Summa program manager: "We start with language where necessary, but always as part of a single, continuous trajectory toward technology. By seamlessly integrating the modules, we increase the likelihood that participants will successfully transition to a job in the semiconductor industry. We're seeing good attendance and engaged and enthusiastic participants."

In addition to this group, other lateral entrants will also be joining in the near future. They will start immediately with the basic technology module. This includes people receiving benefits or those who want or need to change jobs.

The program currently has 18 classes at six locations. Participants work on language four days a week, three hours a day; the technical component will be expanded later. Another 80 new participants will start in the coming months. The goal is to enroll 80 additional candidates each quarter and expand to other municipalities and labor market regions.

The training program is currently being implemented by the municipality of Eindhoven, the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers), Wasbeer & Pauw, and Summa. Some of these organizations also collaborate on the Brainport Academy. The Brainport Academy is part of Beethoven Talent and focuses on retraining and upskilling for the sector, lifelong development. Educational partners and labor market regions collaborate on this program.

This activity has been made possible in part by the National Microchip Talent Strengthening Plan. In the Brainport region, TU/e, Fontys, Summa, Ter AA Brainport Development, and the covenant partners are joining forces with the government and the business community under the name Talent voor Semicon . Together, we are training thousands of new people for the microchip industry up to and including 2030. In doing so, we strengthen the international competitive position of the Netherlands and the Brainport region as a high-tech region.

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