Are career changers a solution to the skills shortage?

The shortage of skilled workers is causing major difficulties for many German companies. Production is also affected. Could lateral entrants be a solution to remain capable of acting despite the shortage of skilled workers?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

What does the shortage of skilled workers in production look like?

In Germany, there are over half a million jobs that regularly cannot be filled. This is according to Figures from the German Economic Institute (IW) . And the situation will become even worse in the coming years. 

Wolfgang Lemb, managing board member of IG Metall, found clear words in an interview with the website produktion.de: "If the impending shortage of skilled workers is not effectively addressed, Germany's industrial base will be at risk in the near future.“

What are the causes of the shortage of skilled workers in production?

There are a number of reasons for the shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing and other industries. The following three are among the most important: 

1. Demographic development:As in many other European countries, the birth rate in Germany is falling. The population is getting older - and therefore the number of workers on the market is also decreasing.

2. Changing career choices:Relevant for production: In recent years, interest in technical and skilled trades has declined, leading to a shortage of new, young skilled workers. The consequences are now making themselves felt.

3. Working conditions:Working in production is no walk in the park: shift work and physically demanding tasks put many young people off and significantly exacerbate the shortage of skilled workers in production and other sectors.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lateral entrants in production?

So how well suited is the employment of lateral entrants to solving this problem, at least selectively? To answer this question, it is worth taking a look at the advantages and disadvantages. 

What are the disadvantages of lateral entrants?

• Lack of expertise:The biggest disadvantage is, of course, the limited or non-existent industry-specific knowledge. The good news is that this can be made up for.
• High training costs:It can take quite a long time for lateral entrants to become familiar with the subject matter.
• Lack of practical experience:This can be a problem, especially for complex tasks in production. 

What are the advantages of lateral entrants?

• Fresh perspectives:Lateral entrants bring new ideas and experience from other sectors.
• High motivation:Career changers are often characterized by a high willingness to learn and adaptability.
• Availability of labor:The biggest advantage of lateral entrants in production is that new employees can be found and employed despite a shortage of skilled workers.

How can companies quickly train unskilled workers?

If companies decide to hire lateral entrants - i.e. unskilled workers - they first have to be trained. This training and qualification phase can take quite a long time, depending on the area of responsibility. To avoid losing too much valuable time, it is important that the induction process is efficient. 

In concrete terms, this means that new employees receive clearly structured training plans and regular feedback. A mentoring program can help to answer open questions and ensure a smooth induction process. In this way, the induction period can be shortened - and the new employees can start working straight away!

Which areas in production particularly benefit from retraining and further training?

The main beneficiaries are those tasks in which the training of lateral entrants does not take too long. These include the following: 

If you have any questions about career changers in production, please feel free to contact us! As a personnel service provider -who has been working on Temporary work is specialized in production, we are also happy to advise you on the topics of temporary work and temporary employment. We can also help you to find qualified Looking for a workforce in production? Our team will respond to your request within two working days.