Training sector might face collapse, warns IG BAU
The Lowdown:It seems the IG Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) union is ringing the alarm bells over the potential collapse of the training market in the construction industry, thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Robert Feiger, the union's chairman, spilled the beans to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that numerous companies are slashing training budgets due to unstable economic forecasts, exacerbating the existing scarcity of skilled labor in the crafts sector.
Feiger's Tale:Feiger also provided facts to back his statement, pointing out that preliminary figures from the construction industry's social security institutions reveal a five percent drop in apprenticeship starters since last year. For high-rise construction, the decline nears eleven percent. Feiger highlighted that even before the pandemic, many companies neglected training opportunities, leading to a steady decrease in the training quota over the years. Given the current crisis, it's catching up now, he stated.
Economic Necessity:Despite the construction industry being relatively untouched compared to other sectors, a shortage of skilled workers has been an issue for some time. The need for bricklayers, carpenters, and equalizers is sky-high in many places due to the building boom. Feiger says the economy can't afford to lose a new generation of young talent, even with many companies grappling with losses. He advocates for public investments from the federal government, states, and municipalities to keep training activities relatively unscathed.
School's Out:Not just that, companies are offering fewer training spots during the pandemic, but school internships are practically non-existent. Feiger even called out the absent career orientation in schools, arguing it's disadvantageous for the dual training system. Ouch!
Facing the Facts:As for the global impact of COVID-19 on Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems, the pandemic has introduced challenges such as remote learning, reduced face-to-face interactions, and economic disruptions affecting apprenticeship opportunities. However, Germany's dual education model, combining theoretical learning with practical hands-on experience, may help mitigate some pandemic-related challenges.
Stay tuned for more developments in this tricky situation.
- The ongoing COVID-19 crisis and unstable economic forecasts have led to a reduction in training budgets among businesses in the construction industry, exacerbating the shortage of skilled labor, as pointed out by Robert Feiger, the chairman of IG BAU.
- Feiger has advocated for public investments from the federal government, states, and municipalities to preserve training activities and prevent the loss of a new generation of skilled workers in the crafts sector, particularly given the current economic challenges.
