The shortage of skilled workers has a firm grip on the labor market: Personnel advisor Christoph Kathan speaks with the “Krone” about the reasons for the blatant shortage of personnel and the difficult search of companies for suitable personnel.
Christoph Kathan’s customers could not be more different – representatives of the state, municipalities, industry, trade and commerce turn to the Dornbirn-based company Kathan & Sepp GMBH when it comes to finding the right employee. However, the customers have one thing in common: they all fish in the same pond – and it is empty.
Efforts are not always crowned with success
Kathan’s work also shows how difficult it is currently to find workers: “Our work used to be evaluation. From the many applicants, we have selected the one that best suits the position. We are now specialists in personnel marketing and social media campaigns.”
He recently launched a major campaign for a client: a half-page ad in the print product, advertising on Instagram, direct contact. No success: “We have little to no registrations.”
Pension wave in 2029
But where have all the workers gone? “The main reason, of course, is demographic change, which has so far been under-reacted,” explains Kathan. He uses two examples to explain how dramatic the situation is or will become. “If I compare the number of those born in 1957 who are retiring this year with the 20-year-olds entering the job market today, there is already a minus 15 percent difference in births.”
However, the peak has not yet been reached. It won’t really get big until 2029, when the generation with the highest birth rate in Vorarlberg retires. In 1964, 6111 babies were born in the country. Of the 20-year-olds, a maximum of 3,766 will take a job in 2029, a decrease of 38 percent.
Work attitude has changed
Strong industry, boom, lowest unemployment rate since 2008, low immigration from Tyrol or southern Germany, strong migration to Switzerland and Liechtenstein or a rapid recovery after the lockdowns also influence the labor market situation. “And we’re not even talking about changed working methods, the attitude to work, the ideas of the prosperous society,” emphasizes Kathan.
“Everywhere is fire”
There is an urgent need for staff in all sectors. “Due to digitization, there is of course mainly demand for IT specialists. At the moment, however, we can offer five jobs to a CPR graduate,” says Kathan. There are plenty of jobs to fill in accounting or tax advice, as well as in sales at export-oriented companies: “There’s fire everywhere.”
The duration of the search has changed accordingly. If a vacancy used to take four weeks to fill, it would now take five months.
Years of lead time required
Still, some customers call and say their chief financial officer will retire in two months after 40 years with the company. “That is negligent, because for jobs like this, the search has to start a year in advance. Notice periods have to be taken into account and a delivery time has to be planned.” Christoph Kathan does not dare to predict how long the agonizing labor shortage will last: “In the current global economic situation and the crises it is difficult to predict how the economy will develop.”
A glance at the US or the latest economic forecasts in Austria would give little cause for optimism. “For Vorarlberg, however, I see the situation as quite positive, because we have a very differentiated, diversified economy. I’m not worried about that.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
