Lack of successors exacerbates staff shortage in crafts - Lower Saxony's craft sector struggles with worsening skilled worker shortage
Lower Saxony's craft sector is facing a growing shortage of skilled workers. A recent survey of around 1,100 trade businesses reveals that many are struggling to fill apprenticeship positions. The problem is expected to worsen as older workers retire and too few young people enter the trades.
In 2025, four in ten craft businesses in Lower Saxony failed to fill all their training spots. The building cleaning sector saw the most severe shortages, while automotive trades remained more popular. Over half of the surveyed tradespeople named recruiting skilled workers as their biggest challenge.
The situation may get tougher if investment activity increases. More projects would demand extra labour, but the pipeline of young workers is shrinking. The federal government's billion-euro infrastructure plans have yet to make a noticeable difference for local trades.
Despite these pressures, the overall mood among businesses has improved slightly. Eighty percent now rate their current situation as good or satisfactory. However, many anticipate a decline in workforce numbers by the first half of 2026. The retirement of baby boomers will likely deepen the gap between demand and available talent.
The skilled worker shortage in Lower Saxony shows no signs of easing. With fewer young people entering the trades and an ageing workforce, businesses expect recruitment struggles to continue. The gap between open positions and qualified applicants is set to widen in the coming years.
Read also:
- Executive from significant German automobile corporation advocates for a truthful assessment of transition toward electric vehicles
- Crisis in a neighboring nation: immediate cheese withdrawal at Rewe & Co, resulting in two fatalities.
- United Kingdom Christians Voice Opposition to Assisted Dying Legislation
- Democrats are subtly dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Here's the breakdown
