Anyone who makes cheese is literally not doing any nonsense, but rather making food and has learned it properly.

Cheesemakers are wanted.

The Kapellenhof in the Wetterau, which processes its organic sheep milk itself, urgently needs reinforcement.

“The market has been swept clean,” says operations manager Pascal Küthe.

Cheese makers are being sought across Germany, and even the restriction that new employees can be trained has so far been of little use.

What sounds like a very specific problem is already a far bigger one.

The catering industry, for example, also complains that the lack of staff can spoil the joy of openings for some as the pandemic subsides.

And a successful notary also reports of the great efforts that he must make to find employees.

Demography as the reason

Patricia Andreae

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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    Other industries have had difficulties filling vacancies for many years. And there is no improvement in sight, on the contrary. According to the forecast published on Tuesday by the Hessian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HIHK), 495,000 skilled workers will be short in this state by 2035. The shortage arises mainly because of the demographic development and is a great risk for the Hessian economy. Currently, only around 5,000 skilled workers are lacking in the companies due to the corona. "The corona pandemic only lowers the demand for skilled workers for a short time," said HIHK President Eberhard Flammer. At the moment, keeping the staff is in the foreground for Hessian companies. In the medium and long term, however, “the demographic club will hit and Hesse’s economy will experience a massive shortage of skilled workers,” said Flammer.


    The chambers are seriously worried that the supply of skilled workers could decline by 29 percent in the next few years. "Almost half a million workers could be lacking in a country with a good six million inhabitants, which is a threat to added value and prosperity in Hesse," continues Flammer.


    It is primarily about qualified workers. According to the study, they will account for around 90 percent of the skilled labor shortage in 2035. While the demand for trained personnel is already exceeding the supply, especially in nursing, health and education, the spectrum will continue to expand in the future. Technical and commercial professions, for example in production, mechatronics, automation and mechanical engineering, are particularly affected. According to the forecast, the bottlenecks are to be expected in all regions of Hesse and are by no means just a problem for the metropolises. The so-called bottleneck sectors of the future include the investigation into advisory and economic services, including aviation, as well as financial and insurance services.Laboratory operators have recently complained about a shortage of young people and are currently trying to attract attention.

    "Strengthen dual training"

    That makes a nationwide and coordinated approach necessary.

    "As early as next year, the need for skilled workers will increase significantly again," says Flammer, adding: "Any strengthening of dual training, any promotion of professional orientation is important." The state government and the alliance for training, in which the chambers are involved, would have Already good programs, but that's not enough, even if Hessen's economy is training with great commitment.

    For a trend reversal, one needs significantly stronger educational efforts in natural sciences and technology and more immigration of qualified specialists from abroad.