The industry is particularly hard hit by the shortage of skilled workers. For example, 87% of the approximately 200 industrial companies surveyed in Germany and France reported difficulties in recruiting personnel. In times of need, many of them fall back on a well-known and proven method: 72% train apprentices themselves to attract young talents. Dr. Christoph Kahlenberg of the Randstad Akademie Deutschland also cites the increased requirements as a reason for many vacancies: “Job profiles are becoming more specific, the demands on employees are rising.” Employers often require qualifications that only a few applicants fulfill. In-house teaching is an elegant solution to this problem. It’s not a cure-all remedy, however, because there is a shortage of apprentices. One reason for this could be low wages.

In addition to training, continuing education at industrial companies is very popular. For example, 67% of respondents want to expand their offerings in this area in order to make employees fit for the future. Thus, they also take into account the above-mentioned increased requirements.

According to the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln , a total of around 85% of companies in Germany were active in providing continuing education in 2016. In doing so, the German economy has invested 33.5 billion euros. In recent years, an increase in informal forms of continuing education can be observed, the study goes on to say. These include, for example, information events or learning in the work process. Smaller companies are less active in continuing education. But those that are invest more time and money per capita than larger companies.