EU Automotive Crisis Exposes Corporate Greed While Workers Bear the Brunt
A damning new report from Eurofound reveals the devastating impact of the European Union's automotive industry crisis on working families, while corporate executives continue to prioritise profits over people. The comprehensive study exposes how the so-called 'twin transitions' of digitalisation and green energy are being weaponised against ordinary workers across the continent.
Mass Job Losses Hide Corporate Failures
The automotive sector, once the backbone of European industrial strength, now faces unprecedented upheaval. Employment figures show a stark reality: while corporate boardrooms discuss restructuring announcements spanning 2019-2025, it is working families who pay the ultimate price through job losses and economic uncertainty.
Particularly concerning is the disproportionate impact on older workers, with employees aged 55 and over facing the greatest threat to their livelihoods. These are workers who built Europe's automotive excellence, now discarded as corporate balance sheets take priority over human dignity.
Training Crisis Exposes Corporate Neglect
The report reveals a shocking training deficit across the sector. While technology advances at breakneck speed, employers systematically fail to invest in their workforce. The data shows alarming gaps between workers' current skills and the demands of emerging roles, yet corporate investment in retraining remains woefully inadequate.
This represents a fundamental failure of corporate responsibility. Companies that have profited from decades of worker loyalty now abandon those same employees when adaptation becomes necessary.
Gender Inequality Persists
The automotive industry continues to reflect broader societal inequalities, with women significantly underrepresented across manufacturing roles. This gender imbalance not only represents missed opportunities for inclusive growth but also highlights how traditional corporate structures perpetuate discrimination.
A Path Forward for Workers
Despite corporate failures, the report identifies promising examples of worker-centred solutions. Progressive companies that invest in comprehensive upskilling programmes demonstrate that the transition can benefit everyone, not just shareholders.
The crisis demands urgent action from policymakers. European institutions must prioritise worker protection over corporate profits, ensuring that industrial transformation serves society rather than enriching already wealthy executives.
The automotive industry's future depends not on appeasing corporate interests, but on building an economy that works for all Europeans. The time for half-measures has passed.