One in four companies fears for its competitiveness
The shortage of skilled workers has long affected almost all sectors. This is the result of a survey conducted by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. According to the survey, many companies are unable to fill vacancies. To avert greater damage, the association is calling for reforms.
According to a survey, one in four industrial companies (27 percent) in Germany are concerned about their competitiveness due to the ongoing staff shortages. Like the high energy costs, the lack of skilled workers is a challenge - "perhaps even a greater one in the medium term", explained Achim Dercks, Managing Director of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). Costs could fall again, but demographic change is here to stay for the time being.
The shortage of skilled workers is not only affecting industry, but also large parts of the economy and is now affecting almost all sectors. The survey shows that one in two of the almost 22,000 companies surveyed are at least partially unable to fill vacancies. "Only a fifth of the companies looking for staff have no problem filling vacancies," explained Dercks. Most frequently (55 percent), there was a lack of dual-trained workers.
Around eight out of ten companies (82%) expected the staff shortages to have negative consequences for their own business. 40 percent would have to restrict their range of services. Reduced opening hours, long waiting times for appointments or losses in service are "no longer a rarity", explained the DIHK.
16% of companies could invest less in Germany, while the figure is even higher in industry at 22%. Machine tool manufacturing (32%), automotive manufacturing (31%), but also medical technology (27%) and manufacturers of data processing equipment, electrical and optical products (22%) are particularly affected.
"Bottlenecks are jeopardizing our success in key industries"
"These are alarming figures. Because the bottlenecks are jeopardizing our success in important key technologies," emphasized Dercks. The economy can only make rapid progress in important future tasks such as climate neutrality, digitalization, electromobility and healthcare if the skilled workers are available.
In order to counteract this, more intensive further education and training, more employment for women and older people, the integration of the unemployed and flexible working time models are needed. The DIHK also described the immigration of skilled workers from abroad as an "important pillar". 54 percent of companies hoped for accelerated administrative procedures. "Months of waiting for a visa appointment, documents getting stuck in the post, a lack of contact persons at the immigration office - all of this must be a thing of the past," demanded Dercks.
The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) highlighted that 82% of companies anticipate negative consequences for their business due to the ongoing skills shortage, with industries like machine tool manufacturing and automotive manufacturing being significantly impacted. In response to this critical situation, Dercks suggested boosting further education and training, encouraging employment for women and older individuals, integrating the unemployed, and implementing flexible working time models, while also advocating for easier immigration processes for skilled workers.
Source: www.ntv.de
