The print industry in Germany counts a total of 8,700 trainees. But the training and skilled labour situation is placing increased pressure on this sector with a workforce totalling 1,10,000 employees. Some 75% of the industry’s 7,000 companies state they are facing major challenges due to skilled labour shortages. Nor can all apprenticeship posts be filled.
drupa 2024: meeting point for young talents and skilled labour
In a statement, technology major Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (HEIDELBERG) says, “The print industry has been impacted by (skilled) labour shortages for years.” According to a study recently published by the company – a leading provider of sheet-offset printing presses – nearly one in two companies lack suitable skilled staff. At present, this is the biggest challenge, even ranking ahead of increased energy prices and bureaucratic burdens. The study was based on a representative poll conducted by HEIDELBERG on the views of 700 firms. The tech giant sees automation and digitalisation as solutions to the staff shortages in print shops. In this way jobs can be made more technical and more attractive for workers. At drupa 2024, HEIDELBERG will be presenting its state-of-the-art innovative solutions.
Skilled workers, however, remain the be-all and end-all despite increasing automation and the New Work Concept. Needless to say, recruiting will be a major topic at drupa, the leading international trade fair for print technologies, held in Düsseldorf from 28 May to 7 June, 2024. The trade fair is an important meeting point for enterprises seeking to appeal to tomorrow’s employees and trainees.
The ‘drupa next age’ special forum, for example, will be all about the industry’s genetic code. This forum is a port of call for start-ups and innovative youngsters as well as long-established companies. Here, the Stuttgart Media University in partnership with the International Circle of Educational Institutes for Graphic Media Technology and Management (IC), provide a point of contact for alumni, students, and trainees alike. Potential junior staff and students are thus given the opportunity to talk to the employers of the future and get to know draft concepts and best-practice cases.
Association initiatives in the field of education
Numerous initiatives promote careers in the print industry and support companies in raising greater awareness about professions and job profiles in the sector. The German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm) has initiated training videos that let trainees in the field of media technology, print, screen printing, and print processing, as well as digital and print media designers have a say. Here young people emphasise that their training not only comes with above-average remuneration but is also great fun and synonymous with a secure professional future.
Likewise, the German Engineering Federation VDMA launched ‘Talentmaschine’ in April, designed to get young people interested in technologies and careers in machinery and equipment building.
drupa 2024 will also see Fachverband Medienproduktion (FMP) – the specialist association for media production – celebrate the premiere of its industry initiative ‘WE.ARE.PRINT’. This is a platform for the print and media industries based on partnership, networking, and talent promotion.
Beyond this, the creative and innovative works by students and trainees will enjoy exposure at drupa in numerous special forums and projects. Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa, Portfolio Print Technologies, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, says, “drupa offers print service providers and their upstream suppliers the unique opportunity to showcase the future of the industry, thereby selectively reaching out to skilled labour and young talent. I am convinced that more and more young people will be attracted by this innovative industry in future and will want to enter a profession in the print industry.”
