On October 29, 2025, members of SPCleantech (NordicHouse is the biggest shareholder), Yabimo and AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow organized international conference “The Future of HR in Energy: Shared Challenges and Solutions,” dedicated to HR challenges in the energy sector. Leaders from Norway and Poland exchanged experiences regarding the shortage of skilled personnel and employment opportunities for Polish specialists in the Norwegian energy sector.
CEO in NordicHouse, Janusz Kahl participated in the panel “HR in the renewable energy sector: challenges and opportunities”.
🇳🇴 Norway’s strength lies in maritime and subsea expertise, and in a collaborative “Norwegian model” that makes it natural to solve problems together.
🇵🇱 Poland’s strength lies in steel, manufacturing, and industrial scale.
There’s a clear synergy, but also a clear competition. As Janusz Kahl put it: “Every country in Europe is fighting for the same skilled people. It’s not enough to attract them. You need to make them stay.”
Economic factors matter, of course. Norway may offer the highest salaries for engineers in Europe, but high living costs and taxes mean the financial advantage can quickly shrink. That’s why, as Janusz Kahl noted, quality of life – healthcare, community, and opportunities for families – becomes a decisive factor.
The conference aimed to foster dialogue and exchange of experiences between energy companies, supporting organizations such as NHO, NAV, Fellesforbundet, Norwegian Offshore Wind, Energy Partners, and the academic community, including AGH University of Science and Technology, the universities of Trondheim, and Stavanger.
Participants had the opportunity to discuss the current and future shortage of skilled personnel, establish a working group defining goals for a stable HR environment, achieve significant improvements in project efficiency, and consider ways to better align education with market demands.
The program began with presentations of key projects in Norway and an analysis of the energy sector labor market in both countries. A panel discussion with representatives from Aker Solutions, Aker BP, Bilfinger Nordics, Equinor, and Beerenberg Services discussed the future of Polish skilled personnel in Norway – challenges and needs.
YABIMO Norge presented a case study on how to retain and attract employees to work in the energy sector in Norway. Subsequent sessions focused the future of HR in the energy sector, including technologies and trends, and gamification in the onboarding process.
The afternoon session of the conference were devoted to renewable energy sources. A panel discussion with Norwegian Offshore Wind, Norwegian Energy Partners, Equinor, and Aker Solutions discussed HR challenges and opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
Norwegian Offshore Wind presented how to maximize opportunities for the offshore wind industry, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency in Oslo presented opportunities for business cooperation. The conference concluded with a summary outlining directions for human resources development and recommendations for companies operating in Norway.