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Crisis in the Bergisches Land: Companies fight against bad business!
Solingen is suffering from declining sales in industry. Companies are struggling with high costs and a shortage of skilled workers.
Crisis in the Bergisches Land: Companies fight against bad business!
In the Bergisches Land the mood among companies is becoming increasingly gloomy. According to a recent report by the Bergische IHK The order situation in industry and wholesale will be very tense in autumn 2025. Half of the 526 companies surveyed have suffered a loss in sales this year, which significantly affects their competitiveness. High costs for energy and personnel also contribute to the tense situation and make life difficult for many companies.
As the data shows, only 19 percent of companies rate their economic situation as good; almost half see it as satisfactory. Things look more unpleasant for a third of survey participants who report bad business. The business situation index stands at minus 14.8 points, clearly showing that the situation has continued to deteriorate.
Impact on the regional economy
There are also regional differences: in Wuppertal and Solingen the business situation has only deteriorated slightly, while in Remscheid there has been a sharp decline. Also worrying is the fact that 25 percent of companies expect further deterioration, while only 17 percent hope for improvement. In addition, 60 percent of industrial companies report underutilized production capacities - the highest figure since autumn 2020. Such a signal not only puts pressure on companies, but also raises the question of how many jobs can be retained.
Fears about job cuts are increasing, especially in industry, where over half of industrial companies plan to reduce investments. The uncertainty is compounded by the ongoing skills shortage, which once again highlights the problems in the training market. Over a quarter of companies have difficulties filling vacancies - especially in dual training occupations. A DIHK report raises doubts not only about the training, but also about the subsequent generational handovers in companies. The gap between existing owners and potential successors has almost doubled since 2019.
Trends and future prospects
The economic situation in Germany is also challenging. In the second quarter of 2025, gross domestic product (GDP) unexpectedly fell by 0.3 percent compared to the previous quarter, like that Federal Ministry of Economics reported. This development is due not least to special effects from the export business, which are now noticeably decreasing. The cautious hopes for an economic recovery are clouded by the challenges in the internal market. Demand is falling short of expectations, which is depressing the mood among entrepreneurs.
In the coming months, it is expected that the federal government's economic and financial policy measures will only have an impact in the medium to long term. The retail sector appears to be largely stable, while the transport industry is not entirely convincing due to mixed assessments. Although the service sector is providing positive impetus, it is struggling with a decline in orders from industrial customers.
These challenges are not only felt locally. A report shows that German companies are increasingly shifting their investments abroad to avoid the pressure of local costs. Such a trend could undermine Germany's competitiveness in the long term, while companies themselves often look for optimistic outlooks - a balancing act between pragmatism and hope.