Short-time work on the rise: companies in the Fürstenfeldbruck district affected

Short-time work on the rise: companies in the Fürstenfeldbruck district affected

The weakening economy has had an impact in the Fürstenfeldbruck district, with an increase in short-time work registrations in companies. The Weilheim employment agency reports that 16 companies in the district have currently registered for short-time work for economic reasons. Companies that manufacture devices, machines, packaging materials, medical devices, carpentry and metalworking shops are particularly affected.

Compared to the pre-Corona year of 2019, the numbers have increased significantly, with 125 applications for economic short-time work benefits in the period from January to mid-March 2024, in contrast to 18 applications in the same period in 2019. The employment agency also oversees the districts of Weilheim, Starnberg, Landsberg and Garmisch, with Fürstenfeldbruck accounting for around a fifth of the total.

District master craftsman Franz Höfelsauer warns of a persistent situation, especially in craft areas that are related to the construction industry. He emphasizes that the area of ​​interior construction has so far been less affected, but difficulties are expected in the future. Companies in the construction sector have also used seasonal short-time work, with numbers falling slightly in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2019.

Many companies only made the decision to use short-time work as an aid during the Corona period, although familiarity with the procedure makes it easier to use. Nevertheless, around 20 percent of applications for economic short-time work benefits currently have to be rejected because they do not meet the stricter conditions. Requirements include, among other things, a financial impact of the loss of work in the company, whether at least a third of the employees are affected by a certain loss of pay and the temporary nature of the loss of work.