There has never been so much transformation. We hear a lot about the “digital transformation”, the “biological transformation” - and of course about the fundamental transformation of our economy in the face of the climate crisis. What is transformation? A first definition is: Transformation refers to the transformation or remodeling of something into another state. It is about restructuring one existing system into another. Hardly any other term has had such a career as transformation lately. This is clearly shown by the word progression curve of the digital dictionary of the German language: After 2010, the line, which has been flat since 1946, experiences an exponential boost that makes it rise almost vertically. If language has something to do with reality, one has to say: something is happening.But what?

Rainer Hank

Freelance writer in the economy of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

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Transformations are associated with fears.

In theory, changes may be welcome;

if it becomes concrete, we fear them.

Our prosperity - or that of our children - is at risk.

We could run out of work.

No wonder that industry and trade unions are calling on the state and politics to cushion the transformation and compensate potential losers.

What will happen to the German auto industry?

Let's do it specifically using the example of the automotive industry, in line with the IAA in Munich. The industry is in one of the biggest transformation processes since the inventions of Gottfried Daimler, Robert Bosch and Henry Ford. The main task of the transformation is the switch from conventional drives to electric vehicles and hydrogen drives - and that at breathtaking speed. In Germany, almost half a million people manufacture products that are directly related to combustion technology, such as diesel engines, exhaust gas cleaning systems or mufflers, for example. If you add those employees who are indirectly dependent on cars, the figure is 2.75 million people. Around 50 percent of the European added value in motor vehicle construction takes place in Germany.What will become of these employees in the transformation process?

The Ifo Institute in Munich has just published a study that is exciting not only because of its results. The method is also remarkable. The initial question was which skills will be needed in the production of cars in the future. And whether those already employed in the industry today will acquire these skills or whether external personnel will have to be found. It doesn't just take new professions. The professions themselves are also changing. For example, the job title development engineer will remain. But he now has to be familiar with battery controls.

In order to find out how well or poorly German industry is equipped for the transformation, the Ifo researchers used data from the professional network LinkedIn. That's pretty smart. Anyone who is a member of LinkedIn usually reveals a more or less detailed professional profile of themselves and their professional competencies. According to the Ifo Institute, this makes it possible to analyze changes in competencies in the German and international automotive industry very promptly, better than with the official statistics that are lagging behind. However, the researchers seem to assume that LinkedIn users are honest. In doing so, they suppress the human tendency to put one's own competencies in a good light. So be it.