Lack of workers – shortage of skilled workers: What does that mean for employees? -News


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The shortage of skilled workers is becoming even worse in Switzerland. But how does this concern employees? Career or study advisors say how they feel this in their work and what they recommend to their customers.

The shortage of skilled workers has worsened again and is reaching a new high in Switzerland. Despite the current economic slowdown, it has increased by 24 percent compared to the previous year. This is shown by a study by Adecco and the University of Zurich.

But what does that mean specifically for employees? And how do career or study advisors in the cantons feel about this? Calls to such advice centers in German-speaking Switzerland provide answers.

Basel companies have a high demand for workers

Lars Hering is head of the Basel-Stadt career advice service. He feels the shortage of skilled workers as more and more companies are contacting the position: “Previously, employers were only interested in 16-year-olds for an apprenticeship. Now you’re asking more and more about career changers.”

The topic also concerns career advice customers. According to Hering, they specifically ask about industries that need workers. While there used to be a few professional fields that were affected by this, now almost all of them are in the same situation, as the Basel career advisor says: “There were times when butchers were desperately looking for people. Now everyone is looking.” Positive for employees: This means that career advice centers can increasingly provide classic career advice based on interests, says Hering.

This shift also means that employees more often have a better negotiating position. When it comes to wages, for example. At the same time, people often decide to quit and take a break or longer training. Hering: “Because they are convinced they will find something again.”

Students only become interested in choosing a career late in life


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And what about the students? Do you notice there that new students are more interested in subjects in which they have better career prospects later? “Not really,” says Markus Diem. He is head of student advisory services at the University of Basel. In most cases, high school graduates start studying without having a specific career goal, explains Diem.

However, this now seems to be changing somewhat: “In recent years, young people have been asking themselves more and more: What do I actually want to do with my studies?” says the study advisor. Basically, when people come to student advice, they are primarily concerned with interests, skills and the feasibility of training through financing.

However, Diem does not recommend studying just because the job prospects there are good: “I neither advise anyone against it nor recommend it. I just tell him or her everything. He or she then has to decide for themselves.”

Employees should reflect on their employability

Training and further education are of course crucial, as Ernst Kurzbein says. He is the head of career and study advice in the canton of Thurgau. He advises employees to regularly reflect on their employability. «Requirements are evolving very quickly depending on the industry. And here you should follow suit and develop yourself further and acquire new skills. Otherwise you risk being flushed out.”

A butcher cuts pieces of meat at the Migros meat counter.

Legend:

In the past, butcher shops in particular complained about not having enough workers. Almost every industry is now like this.

Keystone/ALESSANDRO DELLA BELLA

Because you can’t study or do an apprenticeship today and then think that it will last for 20 years. Kurzbein sums up: “An education has a half-life and, like many other things, its value decreases over time.”

“That’s why we tell everyone almost like a mantra: further training, further training, further training.” At the same time, he also sees employers as having a duty: “Companies can actively support the further training of their employees and thus make an important contribution to combating the shortage of skilled workers.”

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