The Labour Observatory and the challenge of digitalization in Aveiro

In order to respond to its mission of contributing for a prospective vision of the priorities and qualification needs of Aveiro, more specifically identifying the competences for the digital transformation required by the labour market of the Aveiro territory, the Aveiro Labour Observatory has been conducting a series of research and information gathering activities in close collaboration with local actors and the most representative companies of the region in the sectors of Industry, ITCE (Information Communication and Electronic Technologies), and Tourism and Services.

In the pursuit of its mission, the Aveiro Labour Observatory team intends to support companies, training entities, as well as citizens and the local political players. In general, it intends to create greater awareness of the need for development and continuous investment in the areas of digital transformation and the development of competences for it, which enhance the creation of quality jobs, better quality of life and increased competitiveness and sustainability of Aveiro.

On its research and information gathering activities, through workshops, interviews and questionnaires, the Aveiro Labour Observatory has counted on the crucial collaboration of more than 50 actors and companies representing the Aveiro Industry, TICE and Tourism / Services sectors.

The results related to technologies and emerging professions in the ITCE and Industry sectors in Aveiro show great opportunities related to data, artificial intelligence and machine learning. In the case of the Tourism and Services sector, which is still a sector with low levels of technology adoption, for most firms "digitalization" essentially means its visibility in the market, therefore the focus inevitably goes through the area of Digital Marketing. Being mostly micro and small firms, its priority is to hire professionals with technical business competence and, at the same time, digital marketing competence to promote the business.
 

Figure 1 - Technologies and Professions most needed in Aveiro