Skilled labor strategy for 2035 adopted

She cited demographic change, i.e. older generations leaving the workforce, as the main reason for this development. Other reasons include digitalization and economic structural change. 

Against this backdrop, the Senate adopted a "Berlin Skilled Labor Strategy 2035" with numerous areas of action and measures. According to Kiziltepe, the strategy includes plans to increase the proportion of women in employment (2024: 70.9 percent) and people with a migration or refugee background (2024: 66.3 percent). People with disabilities and the long-term unemployed also need to be better integrated into the labor market. Factors such as affordable housing, which is in short supply in Berlin and hinders companies in their efforts to recruit skilled workers, must also be taken into account. "Without skilled workers, there can be no prosperity," Kiziltepe warned.

According to the employment agency, experts predict that new jobs will be created in the coming years, particularly in the information and communications sector, healthcare and education. In contrast, the number of jobs in manufacturing and public administration will decline significantly. According to forecasts, up to 100,000 new jobs will be created. At the same time, 87,000 jobs will be lost completely. According to the employment agency, the activities associated with around 450,000 jobs will change significantly as a result of digitalization and the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and may possibly be replaced.

Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) argued that efforts to attract skilled workers should focus primarily on growth industries such as the creative and digital economy. In 2024, this sector generated revenues of €56 billion in Berlin, accounting for 15 percent of the capital's total economic output. The sector already employs around 200,000 people. By comparison, around 100,000 people work in Berlin's manufacturing industry.