Almost 2.7 million employees and more than 200,000 companies generate prosperity and taxes in the federal state of Hesse.

Their political representatives - the chairmen and presidents of the trade unions, chambers and business associations - have concrete ideas as to what the new Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) should now do for employees and employers in the state.

Transport: Free travel for companies

Falk Heunemann

Business editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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Almost half a million more vehicles than a decade ago are now registered in Hesse - partly because more citizens live in the state.

But also because companies transport more on the road than they used to.

As a result, traffic jams on the roads more often.

Craftsmen are feeling this.

“A holistic mobility and transport concept is fundamental to our day-to-day work,” says Susanne Haus, President of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Chamber of Crafts.

It must be made possible for small business owners to reach and drive to their customers.

For the Wiesbaden Chamber of Industry and Commerce President Christian Gastl, there is a direct connection between the expansion of transport routes and the shortage of skilled workers: if mobility is restricted, this also affects commuting skilled workers.

"We want a mobility master plan that contains concrete measures for all modes of transport and is coordinated with the federal government and the surrounding federal states."

The commission with representatives from all parliamentary groups should present an overall concept by the end of 2023.

DGB country chief Michael Rudolph, on the other hand, urges a stronger focus on the expansion of rail, local transport and electromobility.

The secure high-quality jobs in the region.

The farmers' association criticizes that more and more areas, especially for traffic, are being sealed.

Education: high school students in the companies

Hessian companies are currently unable to find suitable staff for more than 53,000 jobs - and the number of vacancies is increasing.

It is not surprising that this growing shortage of skilled workers is worrying the entire economy.

The Hessian Chamber of Industry and Commerce points out that there will be a shortage of around 150,000 skilled workers by 2026, two thirds of them with vocational training.

An approach from the point of view of employer and employee representatives: The state government should further upgrade vocational training compared to studying.

This has already happened in many places, praises Christian Gastl, President of the Wiesbaden Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

He recalls the introduction of the 'trainee card' and compulsory careers orientation in schools.

"Nevertheless, we keep encountering reservations about an apprenticeship," says Gastl.

"These need to be eliminated with support at the highest political level."

Wolfgang Kramwinkel, the employer president of the Hessian trade sector, is in favor of promoting more young people at grammar schools.

"More and more students are going to grammar school, but many of them may feel more comfortable in a trade than in a lecture hall." That's why he would like politicians to emphasize the development potential of training occupations, which could be found in the energy transition, for example.

This would make these professions more visible.

In addition, qualified immigration should be made easier, demands Kirsten Schoder-Steinmüller, President of the Hessian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Above all, however, she thinks it makes sense if the securing of skilled workers is coordinated in a department.

So far, she criticizes, the responsibilities for vocational training, career orientation, schooling and qualified immigration have been located in different departments.