The rush for STEM degree courses such as mechanical engineering, forming technology and others is on the decline, according to the German Steel and Metal Processing Association (WSM). However, according to the association, those who decide to study technical subjects now have very good prospects. Jobs are waiting for them in medium-sized companies that supply solutions for climate-conscious products. According to the association, many components that help to reduce emissions are produced in medium-sized industrial companies. "German engineering has made Germany a world-class industrial country - our industries ensure that this remains the case even in times of transformation," says Christian Vietmeyer, Managing Director of the German Steel and Metal Processing Association (WSM).
Strengthening competitiveness
While technical subjects are in demand among foreign students, enrolments of German students are falling significantly. Politicians are therefore also called upon to reverse the trend: They must keep medium-sized industrial companies in Germany competitive: "We need a positive image of industry again so that valuable expertise remains in the country and Germany continues to be a leading industrial nation with many hundreds of thousands of jobs," says Christian Vietmeyer.