Shortage of Skilled Workers Threatens Existence of 40% of East German Companies

In view of the shortage of skilled workers, 40 percent of East German company managers fear for the existence of their company. This is the result of a study commissioned by the federal government, for which the market and opinion research institute Info surveyed a total of 2,170 decision-makers in private companies in East Germany and about which the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Saturday edition) reports. When asked about the three biggest problems for their company, 51 percent of those responsible named the lack of skilled workers and workers.

Closed restaurant, via dts news agency

High purchase prices (63 percent) and energy costs (56 percent) are a problem for even more companies overall, but in the ranking of the problems none comes first as frequently as the shortage of skilled workers. Above all, companies expect politicians to promote further training (34 percent) and provide infrastructure to improve the compatibility of family and career (27 percent), but also better integration offers for workers from abroad (22 percent) and more immigration of skilled workers in general from abroad (15 percent). The proportion of employees with a migration background in eastern German companies is below the national average. In the companies surveyed, an average of 6.7 percent of the workforce had a migration background, nationwide this applies to around 27 percent of all employees. The company leaders point to a large number of barriers to employing people without German citizenship, such as a lack of language skills, high administrative costs, poorer qualifications and cultural differences. From the point of view of the decision-makers, resentment in the population or in the companies themselves is a key barrier. One third of the companies (33 percent) complain that the presence of xenophobic actors in the region makes it difficult to recruit and retain employees from other countries . Only a third (32 percent) rate the attitude of the local population towards refugees and immigrants as good. But: Companies with a higher proportion of employees with a migration background report that the population at their location has a significantly more positive attitude towards refugees and immigrants. “The lack of specialists and workers in East Germany is already having dramatic effects today,” said the Federal Government’s East Commissioner, Carsten Schneider (SPD), the RND. Shorter opening hours of bakeries, days off in cafés or waiting lists for months at craft businesses are now part of everyday life in many parts of eastern Germany, Schneider continues. “We will not get the problem under control just by having more women in employment and people returning from the West,” said the SPD politician.

“East Germany needs significantly more immigration from abroad if we want to continue being provided with everyday services and maintain our standard of living.” Schneider appealed to the population in the East to question their own attitude towards immigrants: “The vast majority of people who work at the People who come into contact with immigrants at work or in a sports club have good to very good experiences. Resentment, on the other hand, prevails where there are no foreigners.” Schneider fears consequences for East Germany if the climate in parts of society does not change.

“Anyone who represents racist attitudes is doing serious damage to East Germany as a business location,” warned the Thuringian MP.