How can flexible working hours in production save the industry?
Production, like many other industries, is facing a major challenge. We are talking about the shortage of skilled workers, which makes it difficult to recruit new production employees. Could flexible working hours be the solution to attracting employees to production despite a shortage of staff? Find out here!
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
What is the shortage of skilled workers in production?
According to figures from the German Economic Institute (IW) there are around 500,000 jobs in Germany that regularly cannot be filled. The production industry also suffers from this phenomenon.
What are the reasons for the Shortage of skilled workers in production? First and foremost, the shortage of skilled workers can be attributed to Germany's demographic structure: Older production workers are retiring and there is a lack of sufficient younger workers to compensate for the loss. There are other reasons for the staff shortage in production: The working conditions seems unattrative to many employees. Shift work in particular is an important factor here. Also, employment in the production sector requires various qualifications and specializations that many applicants simply do not have.
As a result, many German companies lack the necessary production staff to fulfill all orders on time. These production interruptions cost a lot of money and have a negative impact on customer satisfaction and the company's reputation.
What solutions are there for the shortage of skilled workers in production?
As already mentioned, the prevalence of shift work in production is one reason for the shortage of skilled workers in the industry. This is because many production employees avoid shift work and prefer to look for jobs in other sectors where shift work is not so prevalent. So how can employers make the production sector more attractive in order to attract new workers?
Innovative approaches for production employees:
- Part time: One way to make the industry more attractive to workers is to introduce part-time work. This can attract workers who are not interested in a full-time position.
- 4-day week: A 4-day week can also help to increase the attractiveness of the company.
- Flexible working hours: Flexible working hours can also be used in combination with part-time work and a 4-day week.
At this point, the Potsdam model should be mentioned, "which offers the possibility of defining working hours in a differentiated and varied manner for companies and individuals. This creates the flexibility that allows both employees and companies to create attractive and needs-specific working conditions."
Flexible working hours can therefore be an important aspect in counteracting the shortage of skilled workers and saving the German industry.
Working from home in production: is it possible?
Finally, the question arises as to whether working from home can also be a way of increasing the attractiveness of working in the production industry. Of course, there are jobs and tasks in production that cannot be done from home and only on site. However, there are also tasks that can be performed digitally. One example of this is the Development of paint formulations on the PC using specially developed softwareinstead of on site in the laboratory.
Is temporary work in production a solution to the shortage of skilled workers?
Another solution to overcome the shortage of skilled workers in the production sector is qualified production staff in temporary employment - also known as temporary staff leasing or personnel leasing. This means that skilled production staff can be recruited quickly and flexibly (or borrowed from other companies for a certain period of time). The following are the main types of skilled workers that are lacking in production:
- Production helpers:
Assists with simple tasks such as packing, sorting or transporting materials. - Production employees:
Carry out various work steps along the production line and ensure compliance with quality standards. - Machine operators:
Set up machines, operate them during production and monitor the production process for any faults.
We have over 35 years of experience in Temporary employment solutions from abroadespecially from Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Baltic States and more). We support you in recruiting qualified production workers. Contact us to receive a non-binding offer or to get answers to your questions about the shortage of skilled workers and temporary employment in the production industry!
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