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A hotel in Saxon Switzerland is looking for staff with a sign: 64 percent of the accommodation providers complain about a shortage of skilled workers
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Robert Michael / dpa
According to a survey by the Ifo Institute, the shortage of skilled workers in Germany has reached a new high.
In July, 49.7 percent of the companies were affected, as the Munich researchers reported in their quarterly survey, which has been carried out since 2009.
The previous record from April of 43.6 percent was thus clearly exceeded.
"More and more companies are having to cut back on their business because they simply can't find enough staff," said Ifo labor market expert Stefan Sauer.
He predicted: "In the medium and long term, this problem is likely to become even more serious."
With a share of 54.2 percent, the service providers were most affected by the shortage of skilled workers, after 47.7 percent in April.
The accommodation providers and the event industry were also well above the industry average at around 64 percent.
In storage, 62.4 percent of the companies were affected by a shortage.
A quarter of a million people are missing in skilled trades alone
In the manufacturing sector, 44.5 percent of the survey participants complained about a lack of specialist staff, including 58.1 percent of food manufacturers.
Producers of data processing equipment and metal products also find it difficult to find qualified personnel (around 57 percent).
Retail was affected at 41.9 percent, construction at 39.3 percent.
In wholesale, 36.3 percent of the companies reported a shortage of skilled workers.
Most recently, craft president Hans Peter Wollseifer complained about a shortage of skilled workers.
According to this, the trades in Germany alone lack at least a quarter of a million qualified employees.
Between 15,000 and 20,000 training positions remain unfilled every year.
more on the subject
Study on the shortage of skilled workers: That's how important migrants are for the German labor marketBy Alexander Preker
In the fight against the shortage of skilled workers, the federal government is therefore pushing ahead with plans to reform immigration law.
"We want foreign skilled workers to find their way to Germany more easily and quickly," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (both SPD).
In coalition circles it was recently said that the cabinet should probably set the cornerstones for a reform of immigration law on the way in September.
Apr/Reuters
