99 solar apprenticeship contracts concluded

In August, at least 85 people will start the three-year apprenticeship as a solar installer EFZ and at least 10 people will start the two-year apprenticeship as a solar technician EBA. A total of 163 companies have received a training permit for solar apprenticeships. 26 approval procedures are still ongoing. The official apprenticeship portal berufsberatung.ch currently has 72 unfilled apprenticeship vacancies. According to the cantonal education offices, the breakdown by canton at the beginning of June is as follows:

*No figures available yet

The two new job profiles are one of several measures to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the booming solar industry. According to the recently published short report on the demand for skilled workers by EBP Switzerland and Swissolar, the Swiss solar industry currently provides employment for 11,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs). In order to achieve the goals of the Energy Strategy 2050, the industry must grow to 20,000 FTEs by 2035. In the medium term, the need is therefore for around 850 new full-time positions per year. At the beginning of this school year, Swissolar is expecting at least 120 apprentices, and in the medium term around 300 apprenticeships per year. Swissolar is developing courses and other training opportunities for the additional skilled workers required in order to make it easier for career changers to enter the industry.

A lot of commitment from companies

Rita Hidalgo, Head of Education at Swissolar, comments on the figures from the cantonal education offices: "The professions have been approved since October 1, 2023. Despite this short lead time, 200 companies have already decided to train apprentices. That is impressive. After all, training apprentices means not only the administrative effort for permits, but also the demanding organization of training. It is very pleasing that the solar apprenticeship is off to such a fast start."

Michèle Ofri, Head of Vocational Marketing at Swissolar, says: "There is a great deal of interest in the new profession. Companies are clearly relieved that there is now a specific apprenticeship for solar installers in the form of a solar apprenticeship. Young people are interested in this exciting profession because it offers them a varied range of manual work in modern companies. Some of the inquiries for taster apprenticeships have exceeded the capacity of the requested companies."

Apprentices look forward to the profession of the future 

Ben Gonda, for example, says about his motivation: "I'm interested in the apprenticeship because solar energy is important for the future. I'm looking forward to being outside and working on the roofs." Gonda will start his solar apprenticeship at Jenni Energietechnik in Oberburg BE in August. Tobias Blatter, future apprentice at Alex Gemperle AG in Hünenberg ZG, is also looking forward to the start of his training: "I'm an enthusiastic craftsman. For me, the solar apprenticeship is a step towards my future career."

Content of the two apprenticeship qualifications

The path to becoming a "solar installer with a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ)" involves a three-year apprenticeship. The future solar professionals learn everything that goes into building a solar system: assembly, installation, maintenance and dismantling. Solar technicians with a federal vocational certificate (EBA) complete a two-year apprenticeship. Their field of work includes the assembly and dismantling of systems. Those who already have a Federal Vocational Certificate or high school diploma can complete the apprenticeship in a shortened form. This August, 19 people will start a shortened apprenticeship. 

Source: www.swissolar.ch / www.solarlehre.ch