Economy in the region: awards and changing challenges!

Economy in the region: awards and changing challenges!

In times of economic uncertainty and demographic challenges, the economy in Germany is struggling with stagnating growth figures. According to a recent report by the South Germans Germany ranks 20th as a business location. Only the Munich region can shine with a better position here. Particularly worrying are the high job losses in Bavarian industry, where around 2,000 jobs are lost every month.

The awarding of the business awards in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district highlights the current challenges and opportunities of the regional economy. At the award ceremony, District Administrator Josef Niedermaier (Free Voters) emphasized the need for confidence and acceptance of mistakes in order to emerge stronger from the crisis. The award winner, Ehgartner GmbH, is an exemplary company that has been managed by Andreas and Markus Janka in the third generation since 1960. With around 150 employees, 60 vehicles and over 3,000 containers, the waste disposal company has developed a solid position.

Demographic change as a challenge

Another factor contributing to the tightening labor market is demographic change, which has a significant impact on the pension system and labor availability. According to that Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research A significant decline in the working population is forecast by 2035, and not too close: up to seven million workers could be lost. The number of younger, employable people is decreasing while the baby boomer generation is retiring.

The age structure in particular is a bottleneck that the younger generations cannot cope with. By 2030, the labor force is expected to fall to just 40 million from 45 million in 2020, which could exacerbate the mismatch between supply and demand in the labor market. This is already noticeable in Bavarian industry. Higher demands on flexibility and training are becoming a reality for many employers.

A ray of hope from the region

Raiffeisen Ware Oberland GmbH, also a winner of the business awards, shows that despite these challenges, success is also possible. With around 100 employees and a wide range of over 30,000 products in stock, the company has developed from Raiffeisenbank, founded in 1908, to an important player in the market. The company's sales have increased in recent decades from 1.3 million German marks in 1970 to 43 million euros today. Manfred Gößl, general manager of the IHK for Munich and Upper Bavaria, expressed pessimistic tones about the economic situation, but at the same time called for more personal responsibility and freedom for companies.

The challenges brought about by demographic change cannot be ignored. Forecasts from Federal Statistical Office show that by 2049 the number of nursing staff and other skilled workers could fall dramatically. After all, the proportion of older workers has increased significantly in recent years, which shows that work in many sectors is also open to older people. However, innovative solutions such as flexible working time models and targeted integration measures could offer opportunities to alleviate the labor shortage.

Overall, it is necessary for politics, companies and society to work together to counter the challenges of demographic change and the stagnating economic situation in the country. Only together can we stabilize the labor market and ensure positive development for the coming years.