Shortage of skilled workers in Saxony: Minister of Economic Affairs sees challenges

According to Economics Minister Martin Dulig (SPD), the shortage of skilled workers in Saxony is only just beginning. In the next ten years, around 366,000 employees in the Free State will retire without this being compensated for by the younger generation, explained Dulig on Wednesday at the Saxon Skilled Workers Summit in Chemnitz. The increase in employment has recently been driven almost exclusively by immigration. While the number of domestic employees rose by only 0.2 percent in 2023, the figure for foreign nationals was eleven percent.

Currently, around 131,300 employees in Saxony have a foreign passport. This puts their share at around 8 percent. "There is still room for improvement," stated Dulig. The national average is 15 percent. Attractive conditions are needed in this country to attract foreign skilled workers. After all, Saxony is in competition with regions in other parts of the world, but also in Europe and Germany. In addition to income and working conditions, how open society is also plays a role, the Social Democrat emphasized.