Shortage of skilled workers in Germany: causes, effects and prospects for the labor market

Shortage of skilled workers in Germany: causes, effects and prospects for the labor market

According to a report by www.mdr.de, Germany suffers from a shortage of skilled workers, which is noticeable in various sectors. The public service is also criticized because the increasing demands on administration lead to an increased demand for skilled workers.

Due to Corona measures, many employees from the catering industry have switched to other industries, such as logistics and retail. This brain drain has led to bottlenecks in various industries, even though the total number of employed people in Germany has increased by 15 percent over the last 20 years.

Experts from the Ifo Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research (IAB) point out that Germany is now exposed to greater competition for skilled workers due to increasing full employment. Sectors that offer attractive salaries and safe working conditions can score points in the fight for skilled workers.

The public sector in particular has benefited from this development, which in turn has led to criticism from other sectors. Representatives of the trades are therefore calling for a moderation requirement for the public service in order to limit the number of jobs and burdens on the economy and thus release more skilled workers.

In addition to the search for domestic skilled workers, the IAB points out the untapped potential of mini-jobbers, immigrants and older workers in order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. Improving child care is also cited as a crucial factor in attracting women to full-time employment after the family phase.

Overall, it is clear that the shortage of skilled workers in Germany has various causes and that a variety of measures are required to counteract this and balance the workforce in the various sectors.