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Watchmaking Professions
Busy As Ever | | | |
| (December 8, 2009) | | | 
| | Despite the current economic situation, watchmaking professions continue to exert a strong attraction on young people.
This year, 386 young men and women began training in the sector, only fifteen fewer than in 2008. Meanwhile the other end of the scale saw an increase of 31%: qualifications awarded rose from 206 in 2008 to 270 in 2009. This is a very pleasing result which shows that the industry is taking the question of training new blood very seriously.
The term watchmaking professions covers the three roles of the watchmaker (watchmaker, in industry, watch-repairer), as well as micro-engineer, micro-engineering designer, watch industry operator, polisher and finisher in watch decoration. At the start of the 2009 academic year, 386 young people began a training course in one of these professions, 268 as full-time students (69.4%) and 118 in the form of a dual apprenticeship (30.6%). These are the findings of a survey by the Employers’ Federation of the Swiss watch industry (CP) among colleges and corporate training providers. The figures attest to the industry’s strong appeal but also reflect efforts made by the CP to encourage training.
In detail, the 386 new starters in 2009 are divided as follows: 252 in basic watchmaking (137 watchmakers, 91 watch-repairers and 24 in industry), 13 AFP watch industry operators, 74 micro-engineers, 32 designers, 10 polishers and 5 finishers in watch decoration. The apparently modest figures for the two latter professions point to a sharp increase nonetheless in apprenticeships in the field of the watch case: three years ago there were only six apprentices.
Could the current economic situation compromise the professional futures of budding apprentices? In answer to this question it is worth noting that passage through a difficult economic period should be placed in context with the duration of the training (from two to three years). Firms active in the watch industry are being careful to maintain the number of apprenticeship places both to ensure a continuous supply of properly trained professionals and to entrench and consolidate their internal expertise.
The popularity of watchmaking professions among young people is not new: looking at the number of new graduates (i.e. courses started three or four years ago), a regular increase is also apparent. Furthermore, since 2007 the sector has been training apprentice watch industry operators over a period of two years, following the model of the Federal Certificate of Vocational Training (AFP). 2009 saw the first six students complete their courses to obtain this new training diploma. Also in 2009, 270 people obtained a CFC or AFP qualification, compared to 206 in 2008, 216 in 2007 and 190 in 2006.
The global economic context is taking its toll on the watch and clock industry no less than others. However the decline affecting the sector has by no means entirely wiped out its growth over recent years. In other words the industry still needs qualified people and is maintaining the number of apprenticeships as technical advances create the need for more and more qualifications. While it is true that the job market is under pressure in the sector, the regular increase in the number of apprentices and graduates shows that the watch industry is not adopting a delayed reaction to the situation but is anticipating what needs to be done. |
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