New Collar Jobs: Technical Talent for the Future
The labor market in the engineering sector is changing rapidly, and companies operating in the aerospace, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries are experiencing a growing demand for skilled technicians. Traditional training paths cannot always respond quickly enough to this need. This is where the concept of New Collar Jobs comes in. This type of position targets professionals with specific technical skills, regardless of whether they have a formal degree. For companies with manufacturing and MRO organizations in the Netherlands, this offers a unique opportunity to attract and develop talent in new ways.
What are New Collar Jobs?
New Collar Jobs are technical positions that emphasize skills that are immediately applicable on the job. Unlike traditional White Collar (office) and Blue Collar (manual labor) jobs, New Collar jobs fall somewhere in the middle. The required knowledge is often gained through:
- Practical Experience
- Specific technical training courses
- Certification programs
Examples of New Collar positions in the technical sector are:
- Mechanical mechanics for aviation and shipbuilding.
- Specialists in CNC machining
- Maintenance technicians for MRO organizations.
- Electrical engineers in the manufacturing industry
Why are New Collar Jobs relevant to businesses?
In the aviation, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries, continuity is crucial. Downtime of machines or aircraft can be costly. Therefore, companies need flexible and well-trained personnel who can be deployed quickly. New Collar Jobs play a key role in this by:
- They deliver rapidly employable professionals By focusing on practical skills and on-the-job training, New Collar professionals can get to work faster than people who undergo longer training.
- They attract lateral entrants and experienced technicians People with work experience in other sectors can move into the technical sector through targeted retraining, increasing the pool of available talent.
- Emphasis on up-to-date knowledge In technical environments such as aerospace and shipbuilding, it is essential that employees stay abreast of the latest developments. New Collar programs respond to this by offering targeted and up-to-date training.
How People with Skills can support this
- Developing internal training programs: People with Skills can support companies in setting up internal training programs and traineeships to prepare lateral entrants or inexperienced candidates for specific positions.
In early 2025, for example, we established a training program for Sheet Metal Workers at Fokker Techniek. Apprentice Sheet Metal Workers are trained by a People with Skills trainer to become full-fledged Sheet Metal Workers, after which they are directly taken over by Fokker Techniek. During the training, apprentices receive a full-time salary from People with Skills. In addition, housing and onboarding are also facilitated by us.
- Technical talent from the EU. As a recruitment partner, People with Skills helps companies find suitable technical talent from the EU and guide them to a successful career in the Netherlands. By focusing on skills rather than diplomas, we increase the influx of skilled technicians.
New Collar Jobs and international professionals
Much technical talent from the EU has relevant work experience and education at MBO level, but does not always have a formal diploma that is directly recognized in the Netherlands. By providing targeted training and certification to these professionals through New Collar programs, companies can benefit from a broader talent pool. This makes it easier to fill critical positions, while giving international talent the opportunity to build a sustainable career.
Conclusion
New Collar Jobs offer a solution to the growing shortage of technical personnel in the aerospace, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries. By shifting the focus from formal degrees to practical skills, companies can find and train qualified personnel faster and more efficiently. People with Skills is ready to support companies in attracting and developing this type of talent so they are prepared for tomorrow's challenges.
Want to learn more about how People with Skills can help your organization with New Collar Jobs? Contact us and discover the possibilities!