VDMA calls for 'young appeal' as rubber & plastics industry faces skills shortage

Frankfurt, Germany - The shortage of personnel is becoming increasingly noticeable in the plastics and rubber machinery industry, according to a recent survey conducted by VDMA’s rubber & plastics machinery association.

Some 77% of companies taking part in the October flash survey stated that they were looking for skilled workers, with 27% describing their current shortage level as “a very serious problem”, said association managing director Thorsten Kuehmann.

Just under a third of the participants, he went on to say, “fear that the situation will get worse in the coming months.”

According to Kuehmann, a change in demographics is one of the key reasons behind the workforce shortage.

More people, he said, are retiring than young people are entering the workforce.

In addition, the mechanical engineering sector has grown in recent years due to increased demand, resulting in an additional need for skilled workers.

“Another reason is that the plastics industry holds too little appeal for young people unfortunately,” he said.

In response, Kuehmann called for concerted effort ‘from all links in the industry’ to improve the image of the polymer segment among the younger generations.

“Young people often take a dim view of plastics. Apparently, we have not yet managed to make it clear that we are the industry that is now setting the course for circularity,” he said.

“We are an industry that is in the midst of ecological change, and one which is in the lead in terms of digitalisation; these are two topics that appeal to young people today,” he added.

According to Kuehmann, up until now, companies have largely acted for themselves when it comes to their public image and promoting young talent.

“But I see great potential if we try to channel these efforts,” he said.

Efforts, Kuehmann suggested, could include holding a joint day on which the industry presents itself to young recruits.

“Something similar already exists in the US and we can learn from it,” he noted.

While digitalisation could provide a long-term solution to the skilled worker shortage, Kuehmann said reforms in the immigration law would offer immediate help by enabling the employment of immigrant skilled workers from third countries.

“That is why the VDMA supports every measure that facilitates the immigration of qualified workers,” he said.

In addition to that, the VDMA boss stressed that staffing agencies played a “crucial role” in integrating refugees into the German labour market.