Addressing Manufacturing’s Looming Workforce Crisis
In an era where statistics tell a compelling story, the state of the manufacturing sector’s workforce shortage becomes starkly evident. According to the Hays Global Skills Index, a shortage of nearly 50,000 engineers currently plagues the industry. To compound this challenge, the German Economic Institute forecasts that, by the end of the decade, the number of STEM professionals retiring will outnumber new graduates entering the field by more than twofold. This unsettling trend suggests that the existing shortage of skilled workers may only be the tip of the iceberg, unless proactive measures are swiftly implemented. In response to this pressing need, EMO Hannover embarks on a mission this year. The Youth Education and Development Foundation for Mechanical Engineering’s Special Training stand consolidates diverse initiatives aimed at enticing fresh demographics into the manufacturing sector.
“For us as an industry, the decline in qualified young talent is increasingly holding back growth, on top of all the other challenges it brings,” warns Dr Wilfried Schäfer, Executive Director, VDW, which is organizing the EMO Hannover. A recent flash survey conducted by the VDMA at the close of the previous year unveiled that approximately 80 percent of the engineering firms surveyed expressed deep concern over the shortage of skilled workers, with many describing it as “troubling” or even “severe.” “As a result, we must explore innovative approaches and potential alternatives. This is precisely why EMO Hannover has embraced the challenge by introducing its Special Training stand,” Wilfried said.
Two specific target groups present significant potential. These encompass highly skilled foreign specialists and, most notably, youth making the transition from school to the workforce. The Youth Education and Development Foundation for Mechanical Engineering’s Special Training stand, located in Hall 8, A54, anticipates hosting over 3,000 secondary school students during the week. Foundation personnel, in collaboration with participating firms, have established a streamlined production and assembly process that enables these young individuals to construct a Formula 1 race car, an exciting opportunity for the teenagers attending EMO Hannover. “The aim of this project is to get young people excited about technology and give them some insights into the relevant apprenticeships in mechanical engineering,” reports André Wilms, Head, Southern Germany Branch – Youth Education and Development Foundation, Mechanical Engineering. “They are supervised by current apprentices from our partner companies. This simultaneously gives the pupils an insight into the world of apprenticeships. We also offer interviews in which the apprentices talk about their everyday lives. We don’t just want to inform the students; we want to inspire them.”
This aligns with the goal of TECHventure: the initiative emphasizes that technology encompasses more than just mathematics. It involves taking schoolchildren to various companies and research institutes, where they gain insights into the diverse and captivating opportunities that technical professions provide. “Our students were thrilled to
visit an actual trade fair,” says Eva-Maria Müller, Technology Teacher, Uplengen High School. “Through the rally, they all had the chance to make genuine connections with the exhibitors at the booths, something that wouldn’t have been possible without this event.”
TECHventure is the prelude to the WGP young talent initiative launched in the spring. “We have also noticed a decline in the number of first-year students at universities for years,” reports Prof. Jens Wulfsberg, President, WGP (Scientific Society for Production Engineering). “At times, this takes on dramatic proportions and could significantly exacerbate the shortage of skilled workers in the future.” Hence, the group comprising 72 prominent production science academics plans to utilize social media moving forward to motivate young individuals to pursue STEM subjects and technical careers. The WGP has long been dedicated to enhancing production sustainability and efficiency, as evidenced by initiatives like the Efficiency Initiative, initiated in response to the energy crisis. “This is an issue which attracts large numbers of young people. However, few of them are aware of how the technical professions in particular can help them make a major contribution to
a sustainable society,” explains Wulfsberg. Following the rally, individuals interested can explore the most recent sustainability developments in production science at designated booths: the Future of Sustainability in Production Area (Hall 16, F11) and the Future of Connectivity Area (Hall 9, H22).
Throughout the event, human resources and training managers have the opportunity to visit the Special Training stand. Here, they can gain insights not only on methods to attract young talent but also on strategies for retaining it. Additionally, the staff from the Youth Education and Development Foundation for Mechanical Engineering will provide guidance on digitalization within apprenticeships and training, as well as unconventional recruitment approaches.
