Shortage of skilled workers in Saxony-Anhalt: Demographics and qualifications as a challenge

Shortage of skilled workers in Saxony-Anhalt: Demographics and qualifications as a challenge

The number of unemployed people in Saxony-Anhalt has increased slightly in the last twelve months, while many companies are holding back on hiring due to the weak economic development. At the same time, numerous company bosses complain about an acute shortage of skilled workers in the region. This may seem contradictory at first glance, but the bottlenecks can be explained by two main reasons.

A demographic problem is one of the main reasons for the staff shortage. The imbalance between retired workers and young workers creates staffing shortages even for companies that do not create additional jobs. Secondly, there is a qualification problem, as around half of the unemployed in Saxony-Anhalt can only be placed in helper jobs, which most companies are not dependent on. This discrepancy between the need for skilled workers and the available labor pool leads to a persistent situation of skills shortage.

The solution to this problem is increased immigration of workers to Saxony-Anhalt in the coming years. The new Skilled Immigration Act makes it easier for companies to recruit qualified employees from countries outside the EU. However, the immigration of refugees alone will not be enough, as many of them and also many unemployed Germans lack the qualifications for the available positions. It is therefore essential to improve the qualifications of the workforce, for which the dual training system can be used in particular.

Despite the challenges created by the pandemic and the energy crisis, securing skilled workers must remain the top priority for federal and state policymakers. The shortage of skilled workers puts a greater burden on many companies in Saxony-Anhalt than any other economic difficulty. It is crucial that measures are taken to ensure the long-term availability of qualified specialists in the region.