Germany's key skilled trades sector fears 80,000 job losses per year
15.11.2026
The crisis in Germany's skilled trades sector is worsening despite more favourable growth forecasts, the president of the German Confederation of Skilled Trades said on Sunday.
"Our business climate index is at the level of the coronavirus pandemic, investment has fallen to the level of the financial crisis," Jörg Dittrich told newspapers of the Funke Media Group.
He warned that, if nothing was done to counter this, the trade sector would "lose between 70,000 and 80,000 jobs a year." He added that more than 150,000 jobs had already been lost in the sector over the past two years.
Skilled trades are a key part of the German economy and cover jobs ranging from construction and electrical positions to food production and health and personal care jobs.
Silent death of businesses
"Many business owners lack confidence, others simply lack the financial means. And then they shut up shop," Dittrich said.
The sector was experiencing a "silent death of businesses." The high cost of living was also putting skilled trades workers under pressure.
"Anyone who spends a lot at the petrol station is more inclined to think twice about having one fewer haircut or buying one fewer cake or piece of jewellery," he added.
To halt the trend, Dittrich called for a reduction in non-wage labour costs and for the coalition to push through its promised electricity tax cut for the trades.
He warned that successful vocational training programmes were at risk of being cut.
"It is undignified how the trades sector is being treated."
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