After the boom, the situation for many craft businesses is now clouding over.
In addition to rising material costs, companies are also suffering from inflation.
Now the politicians have to get involved, demands the industry.
Berlin - Many companies are in a difficult situation in the skilled trades.
The reasons: Increased financing and material costs as well as high inflation and loss of purchasing power.
This is the result of a company survey by the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH).
The usual spring revival in the skilled trades threatens to largely fail to materialize.
+
The bakery trade: In Germany, the demand for handicrafts is declining due to external influences.
© Zacharie Scheurer/dpa
For the first half of the year, a large majority of craft businesses expect their sales to decline or, at best, to stagnate.
The demand for handicraft products and services has decreased, said ZDH President Jörg Dittrich of the German Press Agency.
"As a result, the business situation in the skilled trades is currently weakening further."
Even healthy craft businesses suffer
The acute threat of crisis in the companies does not change the long-term positive prospects for the trades and their employees.
"The difficulties they are struggling with are largely due to external factors and are encountering otherwise healthy operations, many of which are systemically relevant and important for the future."
Politicians have a duty to ensure conditions that are significantly more investment-friendly.
According to Dittrich, this is the only way that the trades can make their indispensable contribution to the transformation and modernization processes: For example, with a view to energy-saving renovations in buildings.
"In particular, immediate write-offs on investments, but also targeted investment bonuses or special write-offs on investments in the areas of digitization and climate protection, the companies rate as investment-promoting."
(dpa / rowa)
List of rubrics: © Zacharie Scheurer/dpa
