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The shortage of skilled workers in Germany could slow down growth, according to Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
© Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
Many hundreds of thousands of workers and skilled workers are missing in German companies.
The government is still warning that the problems could grow - with serious consequences.
Berlin - According to the Federal Government, the lack of millions of workers and skilled workers is increasingly threatening Germany as a business location.
“If we don’t take care of it now, the problem of labor and skilled workers shortages will become the main brake on growth in Germany,” said Labor Minister Hubertus Heil at a government skilled workers’ congress in Berlin.
It became clear how the government wants to make progress here - and what hurdles stand in the way of young people getting a job today.
There is a growing need to “get all people who want to work in the country into work and into training,” said Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
“In the future, this will be the decisive question as to whether Germany is growing and whether prosperity in the country can increase or be maintained,” said Habeck.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs and training positions are already open.
“You have to be blind if you don’t see that there will be more in the future,” said the Green politician.
Labor Minister Heil: “We work against the clock”
Heil named stable energy supply, acceleration of planning and securing the workforce and skilled labor base as the most important steps to ensure that the German economy remains strong despite the weakening global economy.
“Actually, despite all the talk, we are a strong country, but we need an update,” said Heil.
When it comes to the question of securing skilled workers, the following applies: “We work against the clock.” Habeck: “Time tends to work against us.”
Habeck warned, referring to the latest annual economic report: “The potential for growth is decreasing.” In the 1980s, the so-called potential growth, i.e. the growth opportunities under optimal conditions, was 2 percent.
Habeck: “Now we're going to 0.5 - why?
We lack the hands and the heads.”
Seven million skilled workers will have to be replaced by 2035 due to the aging of society, says Heil, citing a study by the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research.
However, 1.6 million 20 to 29 year olds have no initial vocational training.
Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger added: “We still have too many people leaving school without a qualification - 45,000 plus,” as she gave the annual figure.
The FDP politician once again campaigned for vocational training.
What’s on the minds of trainees
But when the ministers spoke to trainees, it became clear what makes it difficult for young people to get into companies.
The young people complain almost in unison that there was hardly any career guidance at their own school.
Despite all the political advertising: “The topic of training has a negative touch - according to the motto: We are only doing training, not studying,” said an industrial clerk who had just completed her training.
There are also practical obstacles: young people have to organize and pay for trips to vocational schools themselves, which are often far away.
Good luck for more career orientation
And the vocational schools described the trainees as often being poorly positioned.
“We still sometimes work with our beautiful overhead projectors here because either the modern technology is not there or there are no teachers who can operate them,” reported a young warehouse logistician.
Stark-Watzinger admitted that the vocational schools had long been treated “neglectfully”.
Among other things, a government “Starting Opportunities Program” that supports general education and vocational schools should help.
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Heil spoke out in favor of a strong expansion of career orientation in schools - ideally so that middle-class students receive this throughout.
“It’s about making the spectrum of professions better known.”
Appeals and announcements
The ministers tried to ensure a positive outlook with calls and announcements.
The labor force participation of women has increased significantly compared to before - but compared to Scandinavia, there is still a lot of room for improvement in this country, according to the Labor Minister.
The situation is similar with the employment of older people - it is going up.
But Heil warned: “It is important that large corporations do not discard people at 60.”
The spread of artificial intelligence in companies, which many employees perceive as threatening, is also intended to reduce the problems - through improvements in productivity and thus a reduction in the need for workers in some places.
But: “If we managed to do that, it still won’t be enough,” said Heil.
That's why more immigration of skilled workers is needed.
The minister referred to the second stage of the Skilled Immigration Act, which comes into force this Friday and will make it easier for skilled workers with professional experience from non-EU countries to be employed.
dpa