China's CATL battery plant reshapes job market in Hungary's Debrecen

On the outskirts of Debrecen, cranes tower over a new factory on the edge of this Hungarian city. And inside classrooms across town, students and former firefighters are preparing for jobs that did not exist here a few years ago.

China's largest battery maker, CATL, is weeks away from trial production at its Debrecen plant, and the race to staff it is reshaping the region's workforce.

At a vocational school nearby, students train with the hope of trading textbooks for toolkits and stepping into one of Europe's most advanced electric vehicle battery factories. The $8 billion investment by the world's biggest battery manufacturer is bringing hundreds of jobs to Hungary's Great Plain.

Shift in hiring focus

The company says its hiring focus has shifted as construction nears completion.

"In all these campaigns, we had been focusing on different types of jobs. Now, as we are getting to the final stage of the construction, we need more blue-collar workers because we want to start production in the next few months," said Noemi Sidlo, Communications Manager at CATL Hungary.

Among the new recruits are firefighters who once worked on the frontline but now focus on prevention inside the factory. Marton Gyorgy, a former Debrecen firefighter, said the move fits his values.

"I want to contribute to a modern company that supports a sustainable future. Safety is very important to me as a firefighter. And CATL has high safety standards," he said.

A new challenge

Gergo Petruska, who spent 18 years in the fire service before becoming CATL's fire service commander, said the change brought a new challenge. 

"I was a firefighter for 18 years. I wanted a new challenge, and CATL gives me a chance to grow, so for me it was worth making the switch," he said.

The factory's industrial fire unit already has 35 members, with plans to expand.

The project also reaches into higher education. At the University of Debrecen, CATL is working with faculty to create programs in engineering, IT and business, aimed at training local talent who can then be used to staff the new plant. 

One of the new hires is Konrad Kiss, a business and management student who joined the company while still in school.

"Before CATL, I mainly worked in the hospitality sector, where I gained some insight into management and procurement processes. With this position, I'm improving my career," he said.

Inside the plant, machines are being installed and the countdown to production continues. 

New opportunities

Patrick Heisler, an electrical technician and final line inspector, described his role. "My job will be the final inspection of the line. We will be checking every single module," he said.

CATL says 75 percent of its hires will come from within 60 kilometers of Debrecen. 

"We are already 950 people. And by the beginning of next year, we plan to have 1,400 employees here in Debrecen," Sidlo said.

At a recent industry conference in Budapest, CATL said the Debrecen plant will anchor its European strategy. 

Managing Director Matt Feng Shen shared how the company tailored a new battery for the region. 

"We found there was some difference in Europe and in China… that's why we specifically designed a new product for Europe," he said.

Long before the first battery leaves the line, the factory is already producing something else in Debrecen: a new workforce and new opportunities.