According to a recent survey by the VDMA, 62% of over 400 HR managers surveyed plan to hire additional specialists with a technical background in the coming months. In turn, 44 percent want to expand their job offers for engineers and IT experts. The number of positions for specialists and academics from non-technical fields is also to be expanded, albeit to a slightly lesser extent.

"There is a wide range of exciting, crisis-proof and also meaningful jobs in mechanical engineering. The employees of our companies are currently heavily involved in digitalization, climate-friendly technologies and the mobility transition. Mechanical engineering stands for many green tech jobs. Almost a quarter of all workers in Germany who are involved in the production of environmental protection goods work in mechanical engineering," says Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA.

Bottlenecks on the labor market remain a challenge. Even though these have eased slightly compared to spring, around 70 percent of companies report severe shortages of technical specialists. Almost every second company surveyed is still experiencing severe bottlenecks for engineers. The high demand for workers in Germany has also led to a slight increase in staff turnover at many companies over the last twelve months.

Strong investment in young talent

Investment in junior staff in the mechanical engineering sector is even higher than in the past. Every second company surveyed intends to create additional apprenticeships in the technical sector over the next twelve months. The number of apprenticeships in mechanical engineering will therefore grow again when training begins in fall 2024. In addition, more dual students and interns are to be hired. On average, one in three companies is planning to increase the number of vacancies here.

However, as with skilled workers and engineers, there is often a shortage of applicants. Many companies are currently only able to fill around three out of four apprenticeships and dual study places. Large companies find this much easier than smaller ones.

High takeover rate in mechanical engineering

Takeover rates after training are very high in mechanical engineering. Most companies take on around 90 percent of their trainees. For the remaining ten percent, the future plans of the trainees are also likely to play a role. Many of them go on to complete a degree or a qualification as a technician, master craftsman or business administrator either directly after their training or later in their career. The companies surveyed estimate that this is likely to apply to around 50 percent of their current trainees.

"The mechanical engineering sector invests heavily in young talent. In recent years, the number of apprenticeships and dual study places on offer has been continuously expanded," says Jörg Friedrich, Head of the VDMA Education Department. At the same time, many companies are currently unable to fill all positions. "This is incomprehensible, as the majority of young people are very satisfied with their training," says Friedrich. This has been shown by VDMA studies as well as regular DGB surveys. Here, occupations such as industrial mechanic, electronics technician and mechatronics technician regularly occupy places in the top 5. "And then young people can expect a future-proof, varied and well-paid job," adds Friedrich.

The results of the flash survey at a glance

• 62% want to hire additional skilled workers and 44% want to hire additional academics with a technical background. The number of positions in non-technical areas is also to be increased, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. The majority of companies are planning to increase their workforce in the next twelve months.
• The majority of respondents are currently observing bottlenecks in the labor market for all employee groups. Companies are experiencing severe shortages of skilled workers, academics and trainees in the technical sector. This was reported by 69, 49 and 55 percent respectively.
• Fluctuation has increased at most companies over the last twelve months. 44 percent reported a slight increase and 14 percent a significant increase. 34 percent have observed no change.
• 51% of respondents want to offer more technical and commercial apprenticeships in the coming months - the highest increase since 2020, when the survey was first conducted. In addition, 41% of companies plan to create more positions for dual students in technical subjects.
• Many companies are currently only able to fill around 75% of apprenticeships and dual study places and 80% of internships. The rate is significantly higher for large companies than for smaller ones.
• On average, companies take on 90 percent of their trainees.
• So far, around one in six companies has benefited from the Skilled Immigration Act. Since the law came into force in March 2020, 16% of companies have been able to hire workers from non-EU countries. Ten percent have tried, but have so far been unsuccessful. Bureaucracy and a lack of language skills are cited as the biggest hurdles.

With its Young Talent Foundation for Mechanical Engineering, the VDMA offers concrete support for training companies, vocational teachers, trainees and students.