Germany: Who will rebuild dilapidated bridges?

SOURCE: DW- AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS

According to the German Ministry of Transport, more than 10,000 dilapidated bridges need to be rebuilt on motorways and federal trunk roads alone. This should happen by 2032 with more than 400 bridge renovations per year. In addition to financial resources, this requires, above all, a sufficient number of qualified specialists. The primary demand is for concrete and reinforced concrete workers who are trained to carry out sometimes complex construction work.

It will be a huge task for companies to achieve this. "The key reason for this is demographic development, which is leading to a decline in the number of potential young talents," say the Baden-Württemberg Construction Industry Association. According to the association's survey, around 44 percent of companies are currently complaining about a shortage of workers.

Retirement of baby boomers is exacerbating the problem

Demographic changes are causing many baby boomers to retire at the moment. Their departure will leave a gap that can only be filled in the medium to long term with a sufficient number of new trainees. But there are not enough offspring. According to the Freiburg Chamber of Trades, the number of trainees in concrete and reinforced concrete construction has fallen since last year instead of increasing, which would actually be necessary.

The fact that there has been no clear downward trend in recent years is also a result of targeted immigration. According to the Chamber of Trades, the number of foreign trainees has doubled in the last ten years. "A large double-digit number of trainees come from India and Vietnam, but a number of trainees also come from Romania and Balkan countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and North Macedonia.