The mechanical and plant engineering sector continues to set new records in terms of engineering employment, according to the latest VDMA engineering survey.
2 December 2019
Carl Martin Welcker, VDMA President (Image: VDMA e.V.)
The mechanical and plant engineering sector is still on course for record employment of engineers. This is shown by the new VDMA engineering survey, which is carried out every three years. According to the survey, the number of engineers in mechanical engineering has risen further to a current 199,800.
Compared to the previous survey in 2016, this represents an absolute Increase of 9,200 jobs. The proportion of engineers, measured in terms of the number of employees, has also increased again and now stands at 17.1 per cent. This is the highest absolute and proportionate figure since the survey began. Every second engineer is employed in research, development and design.
„We are number one as the most important engineering employer and therefore the ‚innovation machine‘ in Germany.“ Carl Martin Welcker, VDMA President
Companies anticipate increasing demand for engineers
Despite the current economic slowdown, companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector still have a high demand for qualified specialists and engineers. „Young people have excellent career prospects in mechanical engineering,“ emphasises Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA.
Display
The engineering survey shows that 54 per cent of the companies surveyed expect a further increase in the number of engineers in their company by 2024. This demand is not only due to the age-related replacement of positions (45 per cent), but also to New hires (40 per cent) attributable.
Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA (Image: VDMA e.V.)
„But at the same time, the Applicant shortage further exacerbated, which can become a significant brake on innovation.“ Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA
On average across all fields of activity, 64 per cent of companies expect a future shortage of qualified applicants, compared to just 51 per cent in 2016. The VDMA survey also shows that companies are already having difficulties filling vacancies adequately and promptly. Every third position was only filled with a delay, and in some cases with vacancy periods of more than a year.
Increased demand for additional IT qualifications for Industry 4.0
The number of companies looking for suitable Industry 4.0 specialists has doubled to 30 per cent since 2016. „More than ever, we need employees who can Turning virtual worlds into real ones“, explains Rauen. According to the VDMA, this trend is set to continue.
In future, there will be an increased demand for engineers with additional qualifications from neighbouring fields, such as mechanical and electrical engineers with additional IT qualifications. 66 per cent of companies are looking for engineers with with Industry 4.0, especially computer scientists.
Professionally trained specialists also urgently needed
Every second company surveyed also had vacancies for skilled workers and technicians. This was significantly more than in the previous engineering survey.
„The strength of mechanical engineering is based on the unique collaboration between engineers and skilled workers. We need masters and master craftsmen - and above all young people who are enthusiastic about our fascinating world of technology in mechanical engineering.“ Carl Martin Welcker, VDMA President
The VDMA is making its contribution here: with the Young talent foundation for mechanical engineering in the area of vocational training and the VDMA's Maschinenhaus initiative, which focusses on the further development of teaching in the engineering sciences and a reduction in students dropping out.
