Red alert: There is a risk of a funding gap in apprenticeship funding!

Red alert: There is a risk of a funding gap in apprenticeship funding!

The initiative future.teaching.austria. (e.g.) recently warned of a serious threat to apprenticeship funding. Managing director Monika Sandberger emphasizes that an impending funding gap sends bad signals at the wrong time. The current framework conditions are placing a heavy burden on companies and young people due to various crises, including the pandemic, inflation and the energy crisis.

Sandberger explains that the shortage of skilled workers will continue to worsen. Companies have to bear high additional burdens, but remain true to their responsibility as training companies. Young people in particular are confronted with psychological challenges, pressure to orient themselves and fears for the future. “It is of the utmost importance that we receive clear, reliable signals and investments in training paths,” said Sandberger.

Consequences of the financing gap

The lack of support services for companies could have long-term negative effects on apprenticeship training. Sandberger warns that many companies could potentially stop training if the financial basis collapses. In this context, z.l.ö. appeals. to politicians to invest in teaching in order to secure the future of training places. Austria's competitiveness depends heavily on well-trained specialists.

A look at the Federal Republic shows similar challenges. The monitoring of skilled workers Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) analyzes the labor market flows of supply and demand. Forecasts indicate continued shortages in professions such as IT, health and nursing professions as well as some technical and teaching professions until 2028.

Market developments and demand for skilled workers

The monitoring, which has been carried out since 2007 under the direction of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training and the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research, also takes into account assumptions about digitalization, climate change and geopolitical factors. Geopolitical situations particularly influence sales opportunities in the manufacturing sector, which leads to job losses.

The medium-term forecast shows that the need for replacements will stabilize the demand for skilled workers in the coming years, but the group of working people will become smaller. Immigration and a higher propensity to work cannot sufficiently compensate for the decline. Demographic change is also increasing these challenges, especially in structurally weak regions.

Sandberger and the z.l.ö. demand that politicians take appropriate measures to support companies and secure training places. The bargaining position of employees is improving in shortage occupations, but the question of the future of training remains open in view of the looming funding gap. Investments are necessary to secure the potential of skilled workers for the business locations.

In order to overcome the challenges on the labor market and defuse the shortage of skilled workers, companies not only have to adapt to the current conditions, but also react flexibly to the coming changes. The current analyzes of the BMAS illustrate how closely technological developments and geopolitical changes are linked.