There is no sign of the shortage of skilled workers in mechanical and plant engineering easing: In the reporting year from October 2021 to September 2022, 11,039 of 94,690 training positions in mechanical engineering-related professions remained unfilled. This is shown by the latest figures from the Federal Employment Agency (BA). The trend of recent years - "more training places, fewer applicants" - is therefore continuing to intensify. According to a report by the VDMA, 2.2% fewer young people applied for a training position in mechanical engineering-related professions in the reporting period than in the previous year. In contrast, the number of training places offered by companies rose by 6.4%. The number of unplaced applicants fell by 10 % compared to the previous year. At the same time, the number of unfilled training places rose by 40 %.

"The gap between supply and demand continues to widen. This increases the pressure on our many medium-sized companies in rural areas in particular when it comes to recruiting young talent," comments Dr. Jörg Friedrich, Head of the Education Department at VDMA. "More unfilled training places every year - an industrial nation like Germany cannot afford this for long. Well-trained skilled workers are the backbone of our industry," he emphasizes.

Call for more technical training

The VDMA education expert therefore calls for: "We need more technology lessons and even more intensive careers guidance in general education schools." Many teachers, parents and, above all, many pupils do not know what good prospects an apprenticeship offers. "Mechanical and plant engineering with its modern technology is what makes climate protection possible in the first place. Young people can really make a difference here during their training," says Friedrich.

The VDMA is involved in many initiatives to promote future-oriented training in mechanical and plant engineering. These include the work of the Young Talent Foundation for Mechanical Engineering, which is primarily concerned with the quality of training in vocational schools, as well as the virtual career fair TechTalents, which brings young people together with mechanical engineering companies. It will next take place on December 14 and 15.