Skilled tradespeople are in high demand worldwide due to demographic changes. More and more are retiring, while many young people are put off by low pay and social status. But there are also signs of a revival.
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00:00Where's a maintenance expert when you need one?
00:03Got a blocked drain, plaster crumbling off the walls,
00:06circuit breakers tripping, or a malfunctioning heater?
00:10Then get a professional, but easier said than done in Germany.
00:14A quick appointment for wall repairs?
00:16That could mean waiting for at least six months or a year.
00:21Yet skilled trades are Germany's largest employer.
00:24The sector provides work for 5.6 million people,
00:28while the auto industry for only 800,000.
00:33However, there was already a shortage of 250,000 skilled workers in 2023.
00:39And the gap keeps widening, thanks to demand rising in construction, for example.
00:44Many tradespeople will soon be retiring, and too few young people are being trained.
00:49The legacy of demographic changes.
00:52But it's not only Germany, Britain, or the U.S. with a shortage of skilled workers.
00:56It's the same story in India, Indonesia, and China.
01:00In China, one issue is the poor image.
01:03Tradespeople are often seen as lower class.
01:06Pay, job safety, and training are considered poor.
01:10The government now wants to make the trades more attractive
01:13with a dual education system like in Germany,
01:16a combination of vocational school and hands-on practice.
01:20But so far with limited success.
01:22Young Chinese still view academic paths as their best career prospects.
01:29To tackle the shortage in Germany, apprentices are being recruited from India for training,
01:34although they're needed there too.
01:36The sector is seeing a boom in the U.S.,
01:39where influencers are inspiring Gen Z to turn from universities to skilled trades.
01:45And then artificial intelligence might also lend a hand.
01:48It can't replace skilled workers, but it could optimize a few work processes.