The renowned Spanish businessman José Elías has generated controversy by stating that the traditionally considered prestigious professions, such as architecture o engineering“they no longer contribute anything” in the current work context. during a recent intervention, Elías said that the labor market is experiencing a transformation where technical offices such as electrician o mechanic They offer better economic perspectives than conventional university careers, raising a debate on the real value of higher education against technical professional training.
“Manual works will be made by people because surely Do not have studies many of them but what Life will win very well I have no doubt. And the studies work will be less tired but you will earn less life. There will be many more people who want to be an architect. Today being an architect or engineer no longer contributes anything. There are many. Today what it contributes is to be an electrician or car mechanical, “Elijah said during his speech.
Elijah’s statements arrive at a time of deep transformation of the Spanish labor market, where the rate of Youth unemployment It exceeds 26.5% according to the data of the first quarter, while certain technical sectors face difficulties to cover vacancies due to lack of qualified personnel.
The current labor market in Spain
The debate on the dichotomy between university training and professional training is not new in Spain. Currently, the country has More than 1.5 million university studentswhile registration in professional training, although growing, does not reach similar figures. This situation has caused saturation in certain professional sectors that require university degree, such as architecture or some engineering branches, where the supply of professionals greatly exceeds market demand.
In contrast, various reports of the business sector indicate that there is a deficit of qualified professionals in technical trades. According to data from the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), in Spain There are more than 85,000 vacancies in sectors such as electricity, plumbing, mechanics and other technical specialties, which seems to give the reason to Elijah’s approach to the current value of these professions.
The salary gap between university professionals and specialized technicians has also been reduced considerably in recent years. While the average salary of a new university graduate is around 21,000 euros per yeara specialized experience with experience can easily exceed 30,000 euros per year, especially in sectors with high demand such as electrical installations or industrial maintenance.
Who is José Elías?
José Elías is one of the most prominent businessmen on the current Spanish landscape. President of Audax renewable And considered one of the most active investors in the country, Elijah has developed a solid career in the energy and financial sector. His personal fortune is estimated at more than 1,000 million euros, which places him among the richest people in Spain.
With humble origins, Elijah has built his business empire from scratch, which has earned him recognition in the business world. In addition to his interests in the energy sector, the Catalan businessman has diversified his investments in other areas, including Deportivo, where he has maintained links with the FC Barcelona.
His opinions about Economy and labor market They usually generate debate, precisely because of their pragmatic vision already contrary to conventions, as evidenced by their position on the current value of certain traditionally prestigious professions.
The future of technical professions against automation
Elijah’s statements also raise questions about the future of technical trades before the advance of automation. “There will come a time that there will be a crane that will change piece by piece and that’s it,” the businessman predicted when referring to the future of car mechanics, suggesting that even these professions currently demanded could be affected by the technological revolution.
According to various studies on the impact of automation on employment, such as that prepared by the OECD, approximately 21% of jobs in Spain present a High automation risk. However, experts agree that professions that combine technical skills with adaptation, resolution of complex problems and personalized attention will be more resistant to this phenomenon.
In this sense, both technical offices and university professions face the common challenge of constant adaptation. Continuous training and specialization They appear as key factors to guarantee employability in an increasingly competitive and changing labor market.
