automation
ÜFor a long time there was fear: will the robots take our jobs away from us? In the meantime, the debate has turned fundamentally. “Work is becoming scarcer, and it’s about automating simple routine activities like sorting suitcases at the airport,” explains economist Jens Südekum. He doesn’t believe that new jobs will be created through synergy effects, which in turn would have to be filled. For the trade unions, too, which up to now have often ensured that jobs are retained despite automation, the priorities are now likely to shift – away from job preservation at any price towards higher wages and further training opportunities.
immigration
In autumn, the government wants to reform the immigration law and make it easier for foreigners to access the German labor market. According to a study by the Institute for the World Economy, the educational level of immigrants will continue to rise. Several hundred thousand people could therefore immigrate to Germany every year. It would have to be that many to counter demographic change. But Germany should not rely on everyone wanting to join us. The competition will be tough. In the “Global Talent Competitiveness Index”, Germany is only ranked 14th among the most attractive migration destinations for well-trained specialists.
Work longer
Germans worked an average of 34.7 hours per week in 2020, fewer than ever before. This is also due to the increasing part-time quota. It will be difficult to break through the preference for more free time. Higher wages don’t always have the desired effect: people could then reduce their working hours because they earn enough that way – and exacerbate the problem.
Another screw that could be turned is working life. People aged 55-65 are significantly more likely to be long-term unemployed, although a larger proportion of them are professionals and experts. Reintegrating them better into the labor market would tap a lot of potential. Making retirement more flexible could also keep older people who are fit for longer in the labor market.
More women at work
Although the female employment rate has risen significantly in recent decades, there is still a gap between the sexes: 79 percent of men are employed and 72 percent of women, especially since women work part-time much more frequently. The biggest obstacle remains the lack of childcare. Expanding this further could free up existing workers, who are often well trained on top of that. However, this is in the way – no joke – the shortage of skilled workers. The Bertelsmann Foundation estimates that by 2030 Germany will lack a good 100,000 workers for all-day care in elementary schools alone.
Better education
Automation and digitization make work more productive, which is why fewer staff are required for the same activity. At the same time, however, the remaining and newly created jobs are becoming more demanding. In order to avoid an imbalance at this point, the basic skills at schools would have to be given more attention again. The scientific advisory board of the Ministry of Economics also recommends the establishment of a further training system that is based on dual training. Even at an older age, people could then obtain “educational certificates with a strong signal”.
