Skilled labor shortage in the Vogelsberg district: Alarming forecasts until 2030!

Skilled labor shortage in the Vogelsberg district: Alarming forecasts until 2030!

Things will get serious in the Vogelsberg district by 2030: According to current forecasts from the Hessian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the region will have a shortage of around 6,480 skilled workers and 610 workers without a professional or university degree. These alarming figures were recently presented as part of the second future workshop in the Vogelsberg district, which was organized by District Administrator Dr. Jens Mischak opened. Among those present were Claudia Wesner from the “Skilled Staff Office for Hesse” and Dr. Christa Larsen, head of the IWAK at the Goethe University Frankfurt, as well as around 50 representatives from companies and schools.

The age-related decline in the number of available workers is identified as the main cause of this shortage of skilled workers. Companies face major challenges, including a lack of economic growth, bureaucratic hurdles and the pressure of digitalization. The shortage of skilled workers is not a short-term phenomenon, but is seen as a long-term task until the 2050s, as Wesner emphasized. The participants have already discussed possible solutions to close the skills gap and strengthen the retention of specialist knowledge.

Identify urgent challenges

A key topic in the future workshop was the transition from school to work and the compatibility of family, care and work. The securing of skilled workers through immigration and local initiatives to acquire skilled workers were also intensively examined. Dr. Larsen praised the Vogelsberg district as active and well positioned to meet the challenges, while at the same time predicting that age-related fluctuation will peak as early as 2027.

Developments in the region call for immediate action. On the one hand, digitalization can offer support to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers in some sectors. On the other hand, however, there is little to no relief in the area of ​​social professions, where the need remains urgent. The discussions in the working groups of the future workshop therefore also included central sectors such as crafts, industry, logistics and public administration.

Monitoring skilled workers: A look into the future

The skilled worker monitoring of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs offers a helpful tool for analyzing the situation. It tracks labor market flows until 2028 and identifies bottlenecks and surpluses in various occupational groups. Challenges such as digitalization, climate change and geopolitical conflicts such as the Ukraine war are also included in the analyses. Regional differences in demographic change can also increase skilled labor shortages, particularly in structurally weak areas. The study showed that while 618,000 people without qualifications will enter the labor market over the next five years, only 396,000 helper positions will be available.

In the coming years, both private households and companies will have to act quickly to compensate for the loss of skilled workers and maintain economic growth. The challenge will be great, but with joint efforts, solutions can be found. Data on the development of the labor markets in Hesse is available online at hessische-berufsprognosen.de.

The Vogelsbergkreis is required to expand its initiatives on the topic of securing skilled workers. The solidarity and cooperation of all those involved are crucial in order to avert the impending shortage of skilled workers, which could not only affect the local economy but also social life.

For further information on the skilled worker monitoring results and general developments on the labor market, please visit the Federal Employment Agency website: statistic.arbeitsagentur.de.

When asked how the Vogelsberg district can overcome this challenge, all that can be said is: There is a lot of potential here - but it takes a good hand to set the right course. Further measures are required to secure the economic future of the district.