Germany: the machine tool and electronic sectors have a hard time facing the employment boom

In spite of the changeable situation, the machine tool and electronic sectors are faced with an unprecedented "employment boom", similar to that of the 1960s. There is no shortage for applicants to skilled jobs yet. But, in the absence of sufficient investment into vocational training in the recent years, applicants tend to not have the required qualification anymore. (Ref. 080258)
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In 2007, companies in the machine tool and electronic industry (Metall- und Elektroindustrie) recruited about 120.000 people permanently, and 40.000 agency workers. In January 2008, they hired 27.000 people. These results can be compared to those of the 1960s, during the “German economic miracle”. Faced with this situation, employers’ federations are sounding the alarm. According to Martin Kannegiesser, leader of the metallurgy’s employers’ federation (Gesamtmetall), almost one in eight compani

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