12 January, Berlin (Reuters) – The German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) reported on Thursday that more than half of Germany’s businesses are having trouble filling openings because of a lack of trained workers, the latest indication of economic headwinds plaguing Europe’s largest economy.
In its survey of 22,000 enterprises, the DIHK discovered that the percentage of businesses having trouble filling positions was at its highest level ever, with 53% of those businesses experiencing shortages.
According to Achim Dercks, DIHK’s Deputy Chief Executive, “we can assume that about 2 million vacancies will remain unfilled,” with the result that businesses were foregoing approximately 100 billion euros in output.
The durability of the job market, he continued, did not imply that businesses were doing well. A “dangerous mix” of staffing shortages, high energy costs, and the march towards carbon neutrality could force businesses to outsource their manufacturing. Read more-
