Skills Shortage

Skills shortage refers to the situation in which companies find it difficult to fill vacancies with qualified workers who possess the specific skills, knowledge, and experience required for the positions in question. This shortage of skilled workers can relate to various industries, occupations, and regions and is often caused by a mismatch between the supply and demand of qualified labour. Reasons for the skills shortage can include: a growing demand for highly qualified workers as a result of technological progress and demographic change; inadequate education and training of workers; the emigration of skilled workers abroad; unattractive working conditions; or a lack of alignment between education systems and the needs of the labour market. The skills shortage can have negative effects on productivity, innovation, competitiveness, and economic development, and therefore requires appropriate measures and strategies on the part of companies, educational institutions, and governments to counteract it, such as investment in education and further training, the recruitment of skilled workers from abroad, flexible working models, or incentives for professional development.

• Lay, C., Niebling, C. (2023). Fachkräftemangel – Mythos oder Realität?. In: Knappertsbusch, I., Wisskirchen, G. (eds) Die Zukunft der Arbeit. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden.