Crisis mood in the craft: decline for orders and specialists!

Crisis mood in the craft: decline for orders and specialists!

Dortmund, Deutschland - The Chamber of Crafts Dortmund reports alarming figures for 2024, shaped by economic uncertainties and an ongoing shortage of skilled workers. President Berthold Schröder is concerned that many companies in Germany are hesitant due to unstable market conditions. "We face major challenges and have to rethink in many areas," said Schröder. The craft sector suffers particularly from high energy prices and falling purchasing power, which is strengthened by a slight decline of 0.4 percent in the newly completed training courses by the end of November 2024. This development could question the maintenance of the need for skilled workers in the future, whereby the expectations of orders and sales in many companies remain dark.

challenges for the construction industry

According to a survey, the majority of the companies can expect a further decline in orders in the next six months, especially in the main building industry, which is considered a key industry for Germany. "The mood is at a low point, comparable to spring 2013," emphasizes Schröder. Problems such as high construction costs, slow approval processes and the highest real estate transfer taxes in North Rhine -Westphalia mean that many projects are considered unfinancable. These challenges make a concrete future plan of politics urgently to strengthen the craft again and promote growth.

A ray of hope shows itself in the initiative of the HWK Dortmund, which with the campaign "Strong women. Strong craft." Try to inspire women for the craft since 2022. The campaign has proven to be so successful that it was honored by Federal Minister of Equality Lisa Paus at the end of 2023. "My future: boss in the craft" is the motto that emphasizes the strengths and success of women in the craft. In 2025, the HWK Dortmund plans a network meeting for women in craft to promote exchange and support with each other and thus continue to bring the craft to a future -proof railway. The entire situation is in the dramatic contrast to your own goals of the craft to bring more women to management positions, such as hwk dortmund report.