WORK IN PROGRESS – BRINGING TALENT, COMPANIES AND CULTURE TOGETHER

Companies are desperately seeking skilled workers and personnel. What does the labour market look like in an international metropolis like Düsseldorf? And what ideas and solutions are there?

Last year a third of graduates in NRW finished secondary school with the Abitur, the equivalent of A-levels. Yet, the number of new students at local universities fell slightly. The reason: more school leavers are opting for an apprenticeship.

Desperately seeking talent! But how can companies convince and retain potential candidates in the current battle for skilled labour? Well, Düsseldorf`s employer branding experts know that for many employees it is not so much social benefits that matter, but appreciation, opportunities to help shape the company and the chance to grow personally.

Sundermann & Palm has been the expert for paints, wallpapers, floor coverings and tools for exactly one hundred years. As a wholesaler, the company primarily supplies painting companies and other commercial and private customers with utensils. A hundred years during which colours and materials have changed. The basis for the success of "SUPA", however, remains the same: a close relationship with the customer.

Almost 8 million people with severe disabilities live in Germany - that corresponds to over 9 per cent of the total population. Inclusion is therefore no longer a niche topic, but should be on the agenda of every company that takes diversity and social participation seriously.

Rarely have HR managers and recruiters had such a challenging job. The reason being that the baby boomer generation is retiring and is followed by much smaller generations. The inevitable consequence is that the labour force in Germany is shrinking. According to the study "Future. Work. Today. A guide to the world of work in 2030", conducted by the Düsseldorf based job platform Stepstone together with the Handelsblatt Research Institute, there will be around ten million fewer people in employment in Germany by 2050 alone than there are today. We are therefore looking at a time in which people will become a critical economic factor. This makes efficiency and smart ideas in the labour market all the more important today and in the future - we have once again selected three of them for you. Here are the start-ups AIMMO, netsome and yakha.

Christian Zaum has been Düsseldorf's Head of Economic Affairs since August 2023, having previously spent six years as the city's Head of Public Order. VIVID spoke to the 46-year-old about how he intends to tackle some of his most important new tasks, such as maintaining economic strength in times of crisis, promoting start-ups and attracting foreign skilled workers. 

When international luxury hotels and top restaurateurs are looking for chefs, restaurant managers and sommeliers, they call Patrick Nottebaum. The Düsseldorf-based headhunter recruits ambitious talent for the Michelin-starred restaurant industry. 

With his exhibition "Wonderwalls. Art & Toys" at the NRW Forum in 2022, Selim Varol has become known to many people as a passionate art collector. He has also made a name for himself as a restaurateur, formerly with Café Toykio and, for a few years now, with the burger restaurant "What's Beef". In an interview with VIVID editor Rainer Kunst, he talks about what family means to him, his first business experience at as a trader at the flea market, the importance of hospitality in his life, being a life-long collector and his definition of success. 

Her heart beats for Düsseldorf's start-up scene: Ella Gemünd runs Techhub K67 which is located in Kasernenstraße. Born in Frankfurt to Rhineland parents, she moved to the city four years ago - and has found her new home here. 

The world of work is changing at a rapid pace, primarily due to advances in artificial intelligence. Markus Albers, an expert in digital transformation, calls for more courage when dealing with new technologies and more flexible working models.