READY FOR TRANSFORMATION
How competitive Germany will be in the future will also depend on how the skilled trades sector fares - an industry that knows how to find practical solutions even in difficult times.
Delicate craftsmanship in demand: violin making is one of 130 apprenticeships in the skilled trades sector.
The search for professionals and skilled workers is of concern for many companies: according to a survey by the German Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BVMW), 62 per cent of SMEs fear that they will not be able to fill vacant training positions in 2025.
The situation in the skilled trades sector in particular - a significant part of the German SME sector - proves these worries to be correct: according to the latest training balance sheet from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), 19,000 positions remained unfilled last year. At the same time, however, the number of applicants who were unable to find a training place also increased. Jörg Dittrich, President of the German Confederation of Skilled Trades (ZDH), appeals to the future federal government in particular to ensure that apprenticing companies and young people find a meaningful match and names a few shortcomings: the equivalence of vocational and academic education must be enshrined in law. Careers guidance must become an integral part of the curricula in all schools that are part of the general education system. In addition, the promotion of trainee travel tickets and the expansion of trainee accommodation in all the individual German states are urgently needed in order to overcome spatial hurdles when filling training places.
Taking a look at North Rhine-Westphalia, here the number of newly concluded training contracts in the skilled trades sector remained almost constant year-on-year at 28,000 despite the weak economy in 2024. ‘This is a good signal and shows that the skilled trades sector is continuing to invest in the next generation of skilled workers,’ says Prof. Dr Hans Jörg Hennecke, Managing Director of Handwerk NRW, the umbrella organisation of the skilled trades sector in North Rhine-Westphalia. The association represents the interests of around 200,000 companies with 1.1 million employees. Despite the consistent number of training contracts, many positions remain unfilled in NRW. However, the situation in the professions dealing with climate, for example as a plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air-conditioning technology, offers hope. According to Hennecke, significantly more new training contracts have been concluded here in recent years. ‘There are huge career opportunities in all trades that are working on the major transformation tasks, from the energy transition to the heating transition to the mobility transition. Young people can see that.’
THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP OF SKILLS
Every two years, young skilled workers from Europe come together at the EuroSkills competitions to put their skills to the test. In 2027, the championship of professions will take place in Düsseldorf. Up to 150,000 visitors and 800 top young skilled workers from 50 professional fields are expected in the state capital. The venue is Messe Düsseldorf. Especially in times of a shortage of skilled labour, the competition serves to inform young people about the diversity of professions and to inspire them to take up apprenticeship training. For the first time, EuroSkills will be organised by two nations. In addition to Germany, Luxembourg will also be organising the competition. Joint projects and initiatives are already being planned in North Rhine- Westphalia and Luxembourg in the run-up to the event to promote cross-border exchange among young Europeans. www.worldskillsgermany.com
„“Especially in times of a shortage of skilled labour, AI can become a decisive factor in maintaining competitiveness“
The changes resulting from artificial intelligence (AI) are a major topic that also concerns the skilled trades sector. The Handwerksblatt is optimistic: ‘Especially in times of a shortage of skilled labour, AI can become a decisive factor in maintaining competitiveness - because AI support will give employees more time for their core business in the future,’ the newspaper wrote in March 2024. AI can be used to automate routine tasks such as bookkeeping, ordering processes and scheduling. Prof Dr Hans Jörg Hennecke from Handwerk NRW has a few examples at the ready: many fitters no longer go to the customer with an order slip, but with a tablet. Some companies have already made significant progress: ‘A roofer from Korschenbroich has developed a sensor that enables permanent damage monitoring of the building shell. And there are bakeries that use AI to calculate the optimum production quantity of bread and rolls for the next day based on data.’ Ideas like these demonstrate how the skilled trades can continue to develop and adapt to new conditions. This also applies to job profiles. For example, the new apprenticeship titled Electronics Technician for Building Systems Integration was launched in 2021 - a response to the fact that the technology in our buildings is becoming more interconnected and "smarter".
Can AI free up time for core business? For carpenters and other tradespeople, it would be a welcome development.
At a time when technology is advancing so rapidly, vocational training is becoming all the more important. For example, with regards to the transfer of knowledge from the university landscape to companies ‘the chambers of crafts and trades with their innovation and technology officers play an important role here as advisors and multipliers,’ says Prof Hans Jörg Hennecke.
„“I don’t think AI will be able to cut hair, cover a roof or repair a car in the next few years“
Dr. Hans Jörg Hennecke, Chief Executive, Handwerk NRW
And what about the existing trades? Are they not endangered by digitalisation? ‘I don't have any major concerns,’ continues Hennecke. ‘Due to the high degree of individualisation, it won't be possible to replace craftsmanship across the board with digitalisation or automation in the future either. Trade services are almost always tailored to the customer or the specific construction site. I don't believe that AI will be able to cut hair, cover a roof or repair a car in the next few years.’ However, in his opinion, other trades such as tailoring, which compete directly with industrial products, would have a harder time. •
Text: Elena Winter
Pictures: Sascha Schneider, Sascha Schneider, Handwerk NRW