Mobility transition in danger?
There is a lack of young talent: public transport staff are significantly older
February 2, 2024, 10:36 a.m
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Many industries are struggling with a shortage of skilled workers and young talent. The problem is particularly serious in local transport. The proportion of employees under the age of 35 is only half the average for all occupations. Employees aged 55 and over dominate.
There are emerging problems with young talent in local transport, which is important for the mobility transition. The number of bus and tram drivers rose by almost six percent to 145,000 within a year in 2022, as the Federal Statistical Office announced on the nationwide strike in public transport. However, a large proportion of employees are likely to leave the workforce in the next few years. Because in 2022 around 40 percent were 55 years old and older. This means that the proportion of this age group was significantly higher than that of the employed population as a whole at almost 26 percent, as the statistics office explained.
The comparatively large number of older bus drivers and tram drivers are compared to very few young professional colleagues under the age of 35: just under 14 percent were recently in this age group. For comparison: At a good 30 percent, the proportion of 15 to 34 year olds among those in employment was more than twice as high.
“In addition to young people, women are also underrepresented in the professional group, with a share of 15 percent.” The proportion of women in employment as a whole was 47 percent in 2022. Almost a quarter (24 percent) of bus and tram drivers had foreign nationality, and the figure was 14 percent of those in employment overall.
Verdi has called on around 90,000 employees of over 130 municipal companies in cities and districts with the exception of Bavaria to take industrial action, thereby largely paralyzing local public transport. The union argues that the burden on employees and the staff shortage in local transport have continued to increase. Verdi demands better working conditions. Essentially, it’s about fewer weekly working hours with full wage compensation, shorter shifts, reducing unpaid travel times, extending rest periods, more vacation or additional days of relief.