9,000 jobs for the region: the newPark and New Work
New jobs for the Emscher-Lippe region and the Ruhr: That is the most important goal of the newPark. As one of four sites of state importance for major projects in NRW, the newPark has the potential to provide a major stimulus for the commercial and industrial employment market in the northern Ruhr region:
- According to calculations by PROGNOS AG, between 5,600 and 8,900 employees will work in the industrial park itself in the final expansion stage.
- In addition, there are positive employment effects in the region for industrial suppliers, crafts and trade with up to 2,700 additional jobs.
- A realistic scenario is for the industrial location to cover an area of 156 hectares on the territory of the City of Datteln by 2037, creating almost 9,000 new jobs for the region in the newPark.
- The first phase of construction will create around 3,000 jobs, two-thirds of which will be in heavy industry and the rest in light industry and research and development.
Source: Prognos AG: Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse für die Flächenentwicklung des Großhabens newPark Datteln – Zusammenfassung, Düsseldorf/Bremen, June 2013.
Jobs in knowledge-based industries
A key factor for the expected structural effects is not just the number but also the quality of the jobs created: With its focus on GreenTech and Industry 4.0, the newPark will primarily create high-quality, knowledge-based jobs. This orientation forms a counterpart to the previous new sites with a focus on logistics that have been realised elsewhere in the region (Arvato, Metro). The newPark can thus make an important contribution to economic change in the north of the Ruhr Conurbation.
The newPark and New Work: On the way to the future of work
The experience with the Corona pandemic has made it clear how digitisation will change the future of work: Innovative working worlds with new organisational models are emerging. The newPark can become a pioneer for concepts that are discussed under the catchwords “New Work” or “Work 4.0”.
Some experts see the concept of “New Work” developed by social philosopher Prof. Frithj of Bergmann as a new megatrend driven by digitisation and automation, demographic change and a shortage of skilled workers, but also by the desire for self-fulfillment, work-life balance and meaningful work, which is very pronounced among today’s generation of 20- to 30-year-olds. In summary, the “New Work” trend stands above all for a new way of combining life and work.
These expectations are particularly widespread among the group of highly qualified specialists and managers in knowledge-based industries as they are also newPark’s target markets.
For the newPark as a new type of commercial and industrial location, this creates opportunities:
- The focus on Industry 4.0 makes it possible to implement paradigmatic approaches to New Work in the newPark – from collaborative working to active participation of employees up to knowledge management and design thinking processes.
- With its digitally networked production, the newPark will meet central requirements of the New Working world: Flexible working time models and mobile working possible from any location – and, according to New Work experts, increase employee motivation and productivity.
- The recruitment of specialists, the commitment and qualification of employees are becoming increasingly important for companies. The newPark concept already includes opportunities for personnel development and lifelong learning, for example through a STEM campus in the newPark (UNITY 2018).
- The high design quality and the location of the business park in the countryside meet the expectations that young professionals and managers (“Generation Z”) have for an attractive working environment
- Good accessibility by bicycle, public transport or car-sharing services will meet the expectations of young professionals, who want their environmentally friendly mobility and short working distances
- In addition to its attractive location in the park landscape, the dimensions of the newPark mean that it can provide central offerings for a better balance between life and work, for example, through childcare, catering, fitness and health services.
The implementation of elements of the New Work concept or Work 4.0 can contribute significantly to the positioning of the newPark as a future-oriented commercial and industrial area.
The attractiveness of the newPark for employees will be a decisive location factor in view of the shortage of skilled workers. In this context, the relatively cheap property market in the Emscher-Lippe region also represents an important potential factor.
