Only a few people in Germany consider a craft profession

In Germany, in an international comparison, only relatively few people consider a skilled trade. According to a representative study by the US conglomerate 3M, the industry is viewed less favorably in Germany than in other countries, especially with regard to salary opportunities. Only 10 percent of those surveyed work in a trade in Germany and another 18 percent have ever considered a career in the industry, the paper published on Monday shows. This is the lowest value of all 17 countries examined.

Almost three quarters of those surveyed (72 percent) stated that they were not active in the trades and had not even considered pursuing a career there. In France, for example, it was 56 percent.

In addition, only 49 percent of those surveyed in Germany believe that they could earn as well with such training as with a profession that requires a four-year university degree - 14 percent fully agree and 35 tend to agree. This is also the lowest value among the countries considered, it said. Globally it was 71 percent.

There is apparently no lack of awareness of opportunities in the skilled trades: 87 percent of those surveyed see many job opportunities in the industry, which is slightly more than the global average. However, 53 percent stated that they were pursuing other professional interests. 20 percent doubted that they would earn enough money with it.

For the 3M study, around 1,000 people in 17 countries were interviewed on behalf of the market researcher Ipsos - including Germany, France, the USA, Great Britain, Brazil, India and Mexico. The data was collected between September and December 2021.

Skilled trades in Germany have long complained that many young people choose to study instead of an apprenticeship. It was not until the end of July that Hans Peter Wollseifer, President of the Craft Industry, called for an “educational turnaround” in Germany in view of the shortage of skilled workers. "We are assuming a quarter of a million skilled workers who are missing in the trades," he said in an interview with the dpa news agency. Goals, for example when installing heat pumps, are then difficult to achieve.

The industry is ready to increase training capacities. "The problem lies elsewhere: our companies have been offering thousands of training places and thus training opportunities for years, but they are not being used," said Wollseifer. "We have to get away from the idea that only a degree can bring professional and personal success and towards more recognition and appreciation of vocational training."