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Skills shortage becomes labour shortage

The IPV comments on the handling of skilled labour. The shortage of skilled workers in the industry has long since become a labour shortage. 

A strategy for dealing with skilled labour was recently presented to the German Bundestag by the federal government. The paper and film industry association has now commented on this and emphasised that the shortage of skilled workers in the industry has long since become a labour shortage. 

 
"It's no longer five to twelve, but already three minutes after. The shortage of skilled labour is no longer a threat, but is already affecting production and delivery guarantees in the industry. A skills shortage has long since become a cross-industry labour shortage."
 
Karsten Hunger, IPV Managing Director
 
The rapidly changing demand for packaging during the coronavirus crisis, for example, has shown how quickly the companies reach their capacity limits and how quickly economic cycles are disrupted. are. Despite ever-increasing automation, the following questions arise: Who will operate new machines if there are no new employees? Who should operate them if the existing number of skilled workers and labourers continues to decline?
 
This challenge is even greater now that the "baby boomer" generation is retiring in large numbers and thus a retirement-related outflow of knowledge is also taking place. Accordingly, the trade association and its affiliated companies from the packaging industry have been undertaking their own stronger activities for some time in order to acquire skilled labour regionally. The association is certain that the demographic downturn will have a drastic impact on production output.
At the heart of the new skilled labour strategy, alongside a contemporary education and training, increasing the employment rate and investing in improved digital productivity.
 
"Ultimately, the goal must be to increase the number of skilled workers on the labour market, regardless of where they come from. More women in employment, training and further education and immigration can solve the problem of skilled labour. It is crucial that this happens quickly, because this issue is existential for the economy and time is working against us."
 
Jens VonderheldIPV Board Spokesman
 
Legal hurdles for the influx of foreign skilled workers should be lowered, for example by Requirements regarding qualification tests and language acquisition adapted to reality and optimised become a reality. Germany must fulfil its role as the most popular immigration country in Europe - and the second largest in the world.
Basically: The The IPV welcomes the German government's efforts in this regard. seen. A corresponding strategy was discussed in the Bundestag and is intended to create a strong Creating solidarity between politics, business and society. An existential question for Germany's economic performance. A recent industry survey among member companies underscores the urgency: 50 per cent of IPV companies complain about a lack of staff and see this as the biggest challenge for the future.
 
"We have a future-proof industry with a very good order situation, but a lack of skilled labour for the qualified operation of the machines makes it difficult to continue producing successfully."
 
Jens Vonderheid
Source: IPV

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