The Bavarian Printing and Media Association (”Verband Druck und Medien Bayern”, vdmb) held a roadshow through all of Bavaria’s districts. On site, the focus was on current topics such as collective bargaining policy, the development of the industry and also securing skilled workers, for which there is even a separate task force in Bavaria. The Taskforce FKS+ is coordinated by Tabea Hoffmann. We asked her to give us a more detailed presentation of the program.
Securing skilled workers has been and will continue to be a key challenge. Irrespective of economic fluctuations on the labour market, companies face an existential challenge in finding skilled workers and covering their personnel requirements in the long term. Demographic change will significantly reduce the potential labour force in the coming years, while at the same time digitization and decarbonization will lead to new requirements for the skilled workers of tomorrow.
A study by the Bavarian Business Association (Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e. V., vbw) on the labour market landscape, prepared by Prognos AG, forecasts a continued, slight decline in the labour supply in the main occupational group of paper and printing occupations and technical media design by 2035. (Source: Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e. V. (2022): Arbeitslandschaft Bayern: Zunehmender Ungleichgewichten mit höherer Flexibilität begegnen (Bavaria’s labor landscape: Countering increasing imbalances with greater flexibility). Available at: New vbw study in the Arbeitslandschaft Bayern series (vbw-bayern.de).
Central point of contact for securing skilled workers
To support companies in this process, the vbw – Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e. V. (Bavarian Business Association) and the Bavarian state government launched the FKS+ initiative to secure skilled workers in October 2018. The aim of the initiative is to support companies throughout Bavaria and across all sectors in securing skilled workers. At its core is the Taskforce Fachkräftesicherung FKS+ (Taskforce for Securing Skilled Workers FKS+), which is implemented by the Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (Bavarian Business Education Center). The Taskforce Fachkräftesicherung FKS+ is present in all seven administrative districts – and is thus the central point of contact for companies.
The service unit acts as an interface to relevant labor market players in Bavaria and supports companies in identifying and leveraging unused (skilled) labor potential. In doing so, current topics are repeatedly taken up and successfully implemented, thus continuously expanding the range of consulting services.
Qualification plays a decisive role
The focus of the support services is on the qualification of the company’s own employees as well as the recruitment of personnel from existing labor pools such as career changers, low-skilled workers, the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, people returning to work, older individuals and those with a refugee background.
In view of the ongoing transformation in the industry, continuing education plays a key role in securing skilled workers. Many qualifications are now also being successfully implemented virtually – for cross-industry topics as well as for special topics such as those required by companies in the print and media industry.
Funding for continuing vocational training has never been as attractive as it is at present. The FKS+ task force for securing skilled workers provides information on this and links interested companies with the employer services of the employment agencies. There is also increasing demand for support of companies in their digital transformation process and for advice on precisely tailored digital forms of learning and products.
Recruiting skilled workers from abroad
The recruitment of skilled workers, trainees and university graduates from abroad is also increasingly coming into focus as an additional option for meeting personnel requirements. The Taskforce Fachkräftesicherung FKS+ supports Bavarian companies in the employment of skilled workers, trainees and university graduates from the EU and non-EU countries. They receive information on the Skilled Workers Immigration Act (FEG), the Accelerated Skilled Worker Procedure and advice on the recognition of foreign qualifications.
Refugees from Ukraine
This year saw the arrival of refugees from Ukraine, another group of people who offer potential for the labor market. The vbw therefore joined forces with the Bavarian state government to launch the “springboard into work for refugees from Ukraine” initiative, which is being implemented by the Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (bbw) e. V. (Bavarian Business Education Association). An integral part of the initiative is the networking of open profiles of companies and job-seeking Ukrainians* and thus their labor market integration. In addition, the platform offers an overview of German courses for beginners and advanced learners (A1 to C2). In order to determine the professional competencies of the arrivals at an early stage, the implementation of the free online competency assessment procedure KoJACK in Ukrainian is available on the website.
The Taskforce Fachkräftesicherung FKS+ networks interested parties with the initiative “springboard into work for refugees from Ukraine” and serves as a central point of contact for companies. They receive support in checking residence status and the associated training or employment permit, as well as information on aptitude and skills assessment.
About FKS+
The Taskforce FKS+ is part of the FKS+ initiative to secure skilled labor, which was launched in October 2018 by the vbw – Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e. V. and the Bavarian State Government. The central task of the Taskforce FKS+ is to provide targeted and free support to companies throughout Bavaria in securing skilled workers. The project is sponsored by the vbw and the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. For more information on the initiative and the free online events, visit https://www.fks-plus.de/.
Overall coordination of the Taskforce for Securing Skilled Workers FKS+
Tabea Hoffmann
Tel. 089 / 44108-209
E-Mail: tabea.hoffmann@fks-plus.de
