The German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) conducts a survey on the employment of engineers in mechanical engineering every three years. According to the latest survey, the number of mechanical engineers currently stands at 199,800, an absolute increase of 9,200 compared to the previous survey in 2016. Despite the initial economic downturn, more than half of the companies surveyed expect that demand will continue to grow until 2024. The shortage of applicants could, however, turn into a ‘brake on innovation’, warns the association. Engineers with additional IT qualifications, but also skilled workers and technicians are particularly highly sought.

If industrial companies want to survive in the competition for qualified skilled workers, it is vital they rethink their recruitment processes. In an interview with German industry magazine ‘Scope’ , Christoph Stichler of personnel consultancy division one says that personnel recruitment and development has become a strategic task for companies. This means that they need to invest in human resources, marketing, and recruiting.