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Tim Demont, 18, enters numbers into the computer and activates a machine that mills a metal part to exactly the right size and shape. “The hardest part is getting exactly the right angle,” explains young Tösstaler.
Next summer he will complete his apprenticeship as a polymechanic and thus become one of the most sought-after specialists on the Swiss job market. In the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metal industry (MEM), there are currently 90 unemployed people for every 100 vacancies. This gap will continue to widen in the coming years, as BAK Economics’ survey on behalf of Swiss Employees shows. The numbers are only available to Blick.
Boys want to go to high school
“I see job postings everywhere I look,” says Tim Demont. At that time, the determining factor for him when choosing an apprenticeship was not job opportunities, but the ability to do something with his hands. “I have a good mix of practical application and background knowledge.”
But more and more young people want to use only their heads instead of their hands and choose to either apprentice in an office or continue directly to high school and then university education. This is increasingly becoming a problem for Swiss industrial companies; They produce at least 7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
Two-class society between office and production
Precisely because industrial workers in local production halls can only dream of home offices and part-time work. While some head to Bali as a digital nomad for two months of the year, Tim Demont stands at the machine in the sweltering 35-degree heat of summer.
His employer, traditional industrial group MAN Energy Solutions, is currently looking for 80 out of a total of 850 employees in Zurich. “This is especially difficult when it comes to experts,” says HR manager Marilena Della Casa (47). And it doesn’t sound young enough. “Young talent is still meeting our needs now, but there will likely be bottlenecks in the future.”
In addition to polymechanics, we are also looking for engineers and IT specialists. This is where industrial groups are competing with large technology companies. “We are not Google,” admits Della Casa. The US giant is known for its high salaries and unusual offices, including canteen-like offices. Google employs 5,000 people in Zurich.
By contrast, traditional Swiss industrial companies look downright dusty. Della Casa also criticizes that they are forced to attribute this image to themselves. “Industrial companies made very low sales. “It is time to highlight the importance of the industry through better storytelling.”
Those laid off by Rieter should step in
Many industrial companies are currently struggling with the economic crisis and in some places are even having to lay off staff. Winterthur industrial group Rieter, for example, announced that it would lay off up to 900 employees. “After hearing about this, we contacted Rieter directly for staff recruitment,” says Della Casa. Because despite the economic crisis, MAN’s order books are quite full. In both cases: Even if the economic part of the skilled worker shortage decreases, the structural part continues.
To counter this, industrial companies rely, among other things, on skilled workers from abroad and on continued employment beyond retirement age.
For Tim Demont, retirement is still a working life away. The initial focus is on apprenticeship qualification. “I will stay here for at least one more year from now on,” says the 18-year-old player. His employer will do everything in his power to ensure that this situation lasts for several years.
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
