The problem of a lack of specialists and workers in the Hessian labor market remains urgent in the year that has just begun.

In 2023, too, the number of jobs subject to social security contributions in Hesse will increase by up to 40,000 jobs, said the head of the regional directorate of the employment agency, Frank Martin, of the German Press Agency.

"Without continuing strong immigration, this cannot be achieved."

Martin advocated not just looking at the number of unemployed in the labor market, which the agency estimates will increase slightly by 1 percent to around 166,700 people (2022: 164,500) on average over the year.

The companies not only lacked skilled workers, but workers in general.

With the new citizens' allowance instead of the former Hartz IV, the job centers would have new tools at hand to motivate the unemployed to take part in training and further education measures, said Martin.

Almost 75 percent of the long-term unemployed in Hesse have no professional qualifications and 25 percent even no school-leaving qualifications.

At the same time, there are many obstacles for these people to take up work that need to be removed.

Get more immigrants into work

However, the domestic labor potential has its limits, explained Martin.

"We have to allow more immigration and we mustn't insist too much on formal training certificates there either."

"If you can weld, you should weld," said Martin.

However, there should also be no dumping competition.

According to the assessment of the employment agency, the instrument of career orientation for young people has recovered.

With the overcoming of the corona pandemic, the number of careers advisers was increased by 65 to 318 and the consultations continued as before the corona crisis.

Due to a lack of internships, among other things, the dual training courses have recently been less popular.

However, Martin emphasized: "It is far too early to start a chant for classical training." It is often better for young people than the seemingly safe path of additional schooling.

Martin spoke out in favor of taking a closer look at and promoting critical individual cases at the transition between school and working life.

The state must step in when families or the young people themselves are unable to make the appropriate decisions about leaving school.

Here, in cooperation with the state of Hesse, it was possible to overcome previous data protection problems.

Starting this year, schools will be allowed to pass on the names of the students concerned to careers advice unless the students expressly object.