Andalusia’s regional government plans to expand its specialised training projects into new strategic sectors during the current legislative term, Employment, Enterprise and Self-Employment Minister Rocío Blanco told the regional parliament. The aim is to prepare workers for the professional profiles sought by businesses in Andalusia.
The ministry is designing initiatives for specific sectors. Those under consideration include technology, mining, technology-driven agriculture, health and social care, and traditional food trades. They would add to four projects already under way, covering shipbuilding, aerospace, green hydrogen and the Army Logistics Base in Córdoba.
Blanco said the projects are designed around identified training needs and ongoing contact with companies. Their purpose is to improve workers’ skills and retraining opportunities, and to help develop and retain talent in Andalusia. She said training should keep pace with the growth of strategic sectors and precede investments that may create jobs, so a shortage of qualified professionals does not hinder investment.
The current projects cover shipbuilding in Cádiz; aerospace in Cádiz, Málaga and Seville; green hydrogen in Cádiz and Huelva; and the Army Logistics Base in Córdoba. Calls issued or planned for 2024 to 2027 total more than €25.1 million and are initially estimated to train more than 20,000 people. This year’s calls have a combined budget of almost €10.6 million.
The shipbuilding project has more than €1.09 million to support the industry’s technological and digital transformation in the Bay of Cádiz and update the qualifications of employed and unemployed people. Applications closed in August, with the award decision expected before the end of the year. The aerospace call has more than €2.1 million for Cádiz, Málaga and Seville. The green hydrogen project has nearly €2.5 million for Cádiz and Huelva and is aimed at roles needed across the sector’s value chain.
The Army Logistics Base project has the largest allocation, almost €4.9 million. It is intended to train professionals in areas including digitalisation, electronics, robotics, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing. Its call is undergoing preliminary evaluation.
Blanco said all four projects were called for applications this year, and that application periods have closed as they proceed through different stages of processing. Courses from the 2024 and 2025 editions of two projects have already been completed. The initiatives are due to continue in 2027, with more than €9.1 million planned for the four projects, an amount that could increase according to need. The initially planned investment for 2026 and 2027 is €19.7 million.
Blanco said planning should be carried out in cooperation with businesses, which she identified as the creators of jobs. She said the administration’s role is to listen, anticipate needs and provide tools that help companies find the profiles they require and workers access those opportunities.