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Wolfsburg in job crisis mode: engineers can't save themselves!
Current changes on the labor market in Helmstedt: unemployment among engineers, challenges caused by digitalization and electromobility.
Wolfsburg in job crisis mode: engineers can't save themselves!
What is the car industry doing in Germany? The current changes in the labor market show that the automotive industry is facing major challenges. Loud News38 In May 2023, the unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent, which represents almost 500 more unemployed people compared to the previous year. Professional groups particularly affected are engineers, with 137 of them losing their jobs in Wolfsburg - despite previous high demand. Ulf Steinmann, head of the employment agency in Helmstedt, is observing a worrying trend that affects all social classes.
How is the IT industry doing? The need for skilled workers here seems paradoxical. There are 44 vacancies in the IT and science sectors and the ratio of jobseekers to jobs has deteriorated, with almost three applicants per job offered. A year ago the ratio was still balanced. In vehicle manufacturing, 95 Wolfsburg residents lost their jobs from January to May 2023 - an increase of almost 50 percent compared to 2024. The structural changes driven by technological change and digitalization are particularly challenging.
A look into the future
A study by Fraunhofer IAO examines the future employment and qualification needs at Volkswagen up to 2030. It is interesting that the reduction in employment is estimated to be less serious than initially assumed. Loud Fraunhofer IAO New business areas, particularly in the area of electromobility, could help to mitigate the negative employment effects. Megatrends such as alternative drives and autonomous driving pose challenges, but at the same time they open up new growth prospects for the industry.
The reporting highlights that the expected job losses in vehicle production due to electromobility are lower than predicted in international studies. Component production is more affected, where the amount of work required for electric drive trains is falling. At a time when massive changes are imminent, strategic competence building is essential.
The big transformation in the automotive sector
According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group and Agora Verkehrswende, six trends can be observed that will shape the automotive industry in the next few years:
- Technologischer Wandel hin zur Elektromobilität
- Entwicklung des Marktvolumens
- Ausstattung der Fahrzeuge
- Digitalisierung der Fahrzeuge
- Produktivitätssteigerungen
- Abwanderung von Arbeitsplätzen in andere Länder
These trends not only influence the direct players in the automotive industry, but also numerous related areas, such as mechanical and plant engineering, energy production and recycling. Expert interviews and market data demonstrate the accuracy of this analysis. This makes it all the more important to actively work on the transformation and not just react.
The changes in the world of work are both a challenge and an opportunity. The industry must shape change systematically in order to meet the requirements of the future and at the same time secure jobs. The last few months have shown that it is necessary to act quickly and strategically in order to win in the long term.
In this regard, collaboration between companies, science and politics will be crucial in setting the course for a future-proof automotive industry - one that is ready for the challenges of the coming years.