Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce: Declining demand for staff masks ongoing skills shortage / Targeted strategies for securing skilled workers in Brandenburg form the basis for economic growth
The shortage of skilled workers is currently only in third place among the economic risks for Brandenburg's economy, according to the special evaluation of the autumn economic survey by the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce. 55% of member companies see it as an obstacle, seven percentage points less than in the previous year.
"The fact that almost half of the companies surveyed currently have no staffing requirements should not hide the fact that demand will quickly increase again as the economy picks up and the problem of skilled workers will grow. A good 37% of companies will not be able to fill their vacancies in the long term; in fall 2024, the proportion was around 6% higher. However, concerns about the availability and cost of staff remain," says Jens Warnken, President of the Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce, speaking on behalf of the Brandenburg CCIs. "It is striking that more skilled workers with dual training are being sought for long-term vacancies than academics. Training and further education therefore remain central to strategic personnel planning and a key to finding a long-term solution to staff shortages. Together with politicians and administrators, we are working on implementing Brandenburg's strategy for securing skilled workers, advising our member companies comprehensively and showing them options for action," adds Warnken.
According to the IHK survey, skilled workers with dual vocational training are the most sought-after in almost all sectors (58 percent). At 30 percent, there is significantly less demand from IHK member companies for specialist and university qualifications. Demand for qualified personnel is particularly high in industry and construction. The hospitality industry is most frequently looking for helpers. The demand for staff without a specific vocational qualification, e.g. to fill helper positions, has increased significantly in recent years (currently 38%).
Bridging the gap: employees of retirement age
Although the pressure on the labor market currently seems to be easing somewhat, more than half of companies fear that the shortage of labor and skilled workers will lead to rising labor costs (63 percent) and an increased workload for the existing workforce (55 percent).
In larger companies with 50 or more employees, around three quarters of respondents share these concerns. Many companies also fear the loss of their ability to act, a reduction in supply or loss of orders as well as succession problems and loss of knowledge. Employees of retirement age are therefore particularly important for bridging the skills shortage. For the member companies surveyed, suitable incentive systems (tax-related) and easier continued employment after retirement are important.
Increased minimum wage makes labor costs more expensive overall
Higher labor costs are also increasing the pressure on member companies of the Cottbus, East Brandenburg and Potsdam Chambers of Industry and Commerce. More than half of the companies will pass on the cost pressure resulting from the increased minimum wage of EUR 13.90 from January 2026 directly to customers through price increases. 16% are even planning to reduce their workforce, while around 10% will cut back on their range of services. 46% will also raise wages for higher wage groups in order to be able to guarantee a wage gap; among larger companies with more than 50 employees, the figure is as high as 63%. This means that labor costs will increase far beyond the minimum wage, as higher social security contributions will also be incurred.
The special evaluation includes the assessments of 1301 Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce member companies.
The state working group (LAG) is a cooperation of the three chambers of industry and commerce in the state of Brandenburg. It represents the interests of around 160,000 companies from industry, trade and services.