Economic downturn or not, the metal and electrical industry in northern Germany is still in great need of skilled labour. Depending on the company, there is currently a shortage of between 10 and 20 per cent of skilled workers.

According to a survey by the Nordmetall trade union, around 42,000 skilled workers are currently being sought for metalworking companies in the federal states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The German labour market alone is not enough to close the large gap. Dual training programmes and further training can alleviate the problem, but not solve it.

A new solution for many of these companies is the recruitment of skilled labour from abroad, who can strengthen the local workforce through their training and professional experience. Signite points the way to foreign machine operators and electricians with an approach that is as non-binding as it is safe.