But after spending more than two decades building a career at the factory, Mr. Karaca, a 49-year-old father of three, learned that Continental planned to close the plant by 2027.
Facing a daunting job hunt, he will head back to school to earn his trade certificate, courtesy of his employer.
It’s a necessary step if he wants to find a job in Germany, where despite a desperate lack of skilled workers, degrees and certification still count more than on-the-job experience.
“I never needed it until now, because I was always here,” Mr. Karaca said.
The training program that Mr. Karaca and 80 of his co-workers will undergo is part of an initiative started by Continental aimed at helping employees acquire the skills they need for new jobs, either within Continental or at companies nearby.
Persons:
Emrullah Karaca, Karaca, “, ” Mr
Organizations:
Continental
Locations:
Gifhorn, Germany, It’s