"Finding good applicants is becoming more difficult," says Dr. Roland Somborn, chairman of the VdL's education working group. For this reason, the VdL has revised the association's website. According to Somborn, it should be appealing, but also informative. It contains information on apprenticeship occupations and reports on the experiences of apprentices, as well as topics on continuing vocational training. VdL member companies can present their commitment to training and continuing education on the website and highlight company-specific features.
The shortage of skilled workers varies greatly from region to region; for example, the problems are greater in southern Germany than in western and eastern Germany. Particularly great difficulties are evident in skilled trades and in smaller companies. The drop in sales in many companies caused by the Corona pandemic and the restructuring measures that have been introduced in some cases have currently concealed the existing problems. "In my estimation, the shortage of skilled workers in our industry is virulent and will also increase significantly in the coming years due to demographic developments," says Somborn.