A shortage of skilled workers is making employees increasingly ill

Germany cannot get the problem of the huge labor shortage under control. Although the number of vacancies has not seemed to be increasing recently, despite the crisis it is far too high at almost two million.

Business and politics have been complaining about this development for months. Because week after week, the lack of suitable employees destroys value creation and thus prosperity. Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) speaks of a "location risk" for the country in view of the gap.

The labor shortage does not only affect companies. Almost two-thirds of employees are also feeling the strain of the shortage of skilled workers - and have to work more. This is the result of a survey conducted by the market research institute Respondi on behalf of the job portal “meinestadt.de” among 3,000 skilled workers with vocational training, which WELT AM SONNTAG has exclusively available. Like WELT AM SONNTAG, the portal belongs to Axel Springer SE.

According to the survey, more than a quarter of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 65 work overtime because their company lacks staff. The values ​​are particularly high in care at 65 percent and in sales at almost 40 percent. 5.7 percent state that their company can no longer offer certain products or services.

For a third of those surveyed, the working hours have also increased, so they have to do more in the same amount of time. 42 percent would like more flexible working hours. At the same time, almost 93 percent of the skilled workers say that regular working hours are important to them. That's 15 percent more than the same survey from 2017.

These developments should not remain without consequences. "Overworked workers tend to look for new jobs," says the boss of "meinestadt.de", Mark Hoffmann. "There is a risk of a big change wave."

According to the results, the pressure also affects the health of employees. More than a third feel strained by their work. For 52 percent of the skilled workers, the psychological burden is one of the greatest stress factors. This is followed by deadline pressure and lack of time with 45 percent, as well as overtime and overtime with 37 percent.

According to the survey, the health risk is particularly high in nursing and part-time employees. One in five part-time specialists states their own state of health as “less good” or “poor”. In Germany, around 28 percent of all employees work part-time, which is the fourth highest figure in the EU. Among women it is almost every second person. "Currently, not even a third of the skilled workers benefit from company health offers," criticizes Hoffmann.

A four-day week is conceivable for the majority of those who work full-time. 88 percent of those surveyed made this statement - although less than a third believe that a corresponding regulation will actually prevail in their industry.

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