Energy, inflation, shortage of skilled workers: the economy in Wolfratshausen defies the crisis

Created: 01/13/2023 2:48 p.m

By: Dominik Stallein

Many large companies are at home in the Wolfratshausen industrial park.

There have been many challenges for them over the past year.

© Hans Lippert

The business association sees positive things in the past year.

"The economy is robust", although one crisis followed the next.

There are still problems.

Wolfratshausen – The past year was like a race of negative reports: war in Europe, energy crisis, corona pandemic, inflation, supply chain problems.

There was a lot of bad news for the domestic economy.

However, the board of directors of the Wolfratshausen Entrepreneurs' Association (UWW) does not see everything as bleak.

When asked by our newspaper, board member Christian Spindler lists: “The end of the corona restrictions has largely been reached.

The economy weathered the pandemic much better than originally forecast.

There have been no major shortfalls, and there is still practically full employment.” Due to the situation in Europe, “the energy transition has now inevitably been accelerated”.

This "will hopefully finally be operated seriously and sustainably".

Christian Spindler, board member of the UWW © Private

Energy, inflation, shortage of skilled workers: the economy in Wolfratshausen defies the crisis

Looking to the future is relatively positive: “Price increases have probably peaked,” Spindler speculates.

The expected recession is likely to be much milder than originally assumed.

"The economy is robust and is adapting more and more to the new framework conditions," says the UWW board member.

However, some problems could not be denied.

Many companies in Loisachstadt are still struggling with supply chain disruptions.

Spindler also names the lack of workers and skilled workers as the biggest hurdle for the Wolfratshausen economy.

This problem is getting worse: The rental prices in the region south of Munich are at a very high level - and it is difficult to attract well-trained specialists to the high-price region.

Vacancies in Wolfratshausen: Companies are looking for employees - rental prices are a problem

The UWW sees tasks for the companies to break out of this spiral: Some entrepreneurs could create living space for the employees themselves.

Through various measures - company pension insurance, health management, flexible working hours or mobility offers - companies could increase their attractiveness as employers and offer skilled workers additional arguments for settling in the region.

Businesses in Wolfratshausen: Cooperation with Geretsried makes “the location more attractive in any case”

In principle, the Wolfratshausen site is well positioned in terms of business.

Spindler speaks of a "healthy branch mix", even if the situation in retail is difficult - an exception would be food discounters.

The increased cooperation between the cities of Wolfratshausen and Geretsried could offer a further upgrade for the location.

"That definitely makes the location more attractive," says Spindler.

He sees the efforts to jointly form a middle center as a good approach.

Ultimately, this could combine the advantages of both municipalities: "Geretsried has space and growth potential, Wolfratshausen good transport connections."

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.